What is acne?
The main causes of acne (also called acne vulgaris) are genetics and hormones, and there are many factors that can exacerbate this skin condition.
Acne generally develops during the teen years, during the onset of puberty.
As hormonal levels fluctuate for a woman during her monthly menstrual cycles, some women are also prone to acne breakouts during those periods.
Children whose parents have dealt with acne are more likely to struggle with this skin condition as acne can also be a result of hereditary factors.
At times, stress can also trigger or exacerbate an acne breakout.
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What causes acne?
Acne is a common skin condition that affects both teenagers and adults. It affects the skin’s oil glands and hair follicles.
Small holes in the skin called pores connect to oil glands under the skin via canals called follicles. The oil glands make an oily substance called sebum while inside hair follicles, oil carries dead skin cells to the surface of the skin as waste. These follicles have hair growing out of the skin as well. Sometimes hair, dead cells and sebum clump together into a plug, clogging the follicle and bacteria grows on the plug. This causes a swelling under the skin surface which eventually turns into acne.
Acne primarily affects areas of the skin with more oil glands, including the face, upper part of the chest, and back.
Acne is usually not a serious health threat. However, if left untreated or if treated poorly it can cause scarring.
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Types and symptoms of acne
Severity of acne
Acne Vulgaris is measured on grades of severity and can be diagnosed in four different classifications.
What are the treatments for acne?
There are various treatment options for acne, depending on the severity of your acne and the dermatologist’s assessment.
1) Topicals
A helpful topical product is a retinoid (which is a Vitamin A derived product). Topicals are applied directly on the acne to treat them as they also include antibiotics such as benzoyl peroxide. Sometimes this product is combined in one formulation.
2) Oral antibiotics
Oral antibiotics are frequently prescribed for acne. They treat the infection that causes the inflammation in the acne. They are useful in reducing the inflammatory lesions (the ones with pus, or those that are large and tender), and have to be taken regularly between a 2-3 month period.
3) Oral contraceptives
For women who have acne and also require contraception, many combined oral contraceptive pills are useful. One of the most commonly used formulations contains cyproterone acetate. This pill tends to reduce the acne flares that are noted around menses, and also reduce the oiliness of the face to some extent.
Want to achieve healthier, radiant skin?
Enquire now for more information, or make an appointment today with our dermatologist.
