Acne

By Author: Kingsway Hospitals
Total Articles: 30
Comment this article

Acne is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become blocked with oil, bacteria and dead skin cells. It causes spots, whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, cysts or nodules. Acne is most commonly seen during puberty or among teenagers; however, it can affect people of all age groups. It is mostly seen on the face; but can also be seen on back, shoulders, neck, chest, and upper arms.

WHAT CAUSES ACNE?
There can be various causes of acne. Most common causes are listed here:
i) Oily skin: There are pores in the skin that connect to sebaceous (oil) glands underneath. The glands produce an oily liquid called sebum which carries dead skin cells through the follicles to the surface of the skin. A small hair grows through the follicle out of the skin. A follicle is made of a hair and sebaceous gland. Pimple begins to grow when these follicles get blocked, and oil builds up under the skin. A plug is formed by the skin cells, sebum, and hair which gets infected with bacteria, resulting in swelling. The breakdown of the plug leads to the development of a pimple.
ii) Stress: Stress ...
... may worsen the already present acne.
iii) Hormonal Imbalance: Hormonal changes caused by puberty or pregnancy can be the cause of acne. Androgens are hormones that begin to rise in adolescence. In women, it gets converted into estrogen. Androgen causes the enlargement of sebaceous glands to make more sebum. Excessive sebum can cause the breakdown of the cellular walls in the pores, causing the growth of bacteria.
iv) Use of cosmetics: Use of greasy cosmetics, oily lotions and creams can increase the risk of acne.
v) Diet: A diet rich in refined sugars or carbohydrates, such as bread, bagels and chips may worsen the acne.
vi) Certain medications: Medications such as certain birth control pills or corticosteroids, testosterone or lithium may increase the risk of acne.

PREVENTION:
i) Diet modification: One can decrease the risk of acne by having a healthy diet with minimal refined sugars and a diet rich in vitamins A, E and zinc.
ii) Stay away from stress: One can try to reduce stress by getting enough sleep and practising relaxation techniques.
iii) Choose correct products to apply on face: Twice a day, use your hands to wash face with mild soap or a gentle oil-free cleanser and warm water. Avoid products, such as facial scrubs, astringents and masks as they tend to irritate the skin, worsening the acne. Too much of washing and scrubbing also can irritate the skin. One should use makeup that’s water-based like an oil-free foundation, or a light non-comedogenic moisturizer.
iv) Stop picking the acne: One should avoid touching or picking acne-prone areas as it can spread bacteria and excess oil triggering more acne or lead to infection or scarring.

TREATMENT:
Consult a dermatologist: Consulting a dermatologist can help you to control your acne, avoid scarring or other damage to your skin and also to make scars less visible. Acne medications work by reducing oil production and swelling or by treating bacterial infection. The doctor provides the treatment plan depending on the age, type and severity of acne, and the willingness of the patient to commit to it. Treatment can either be in the form of topical medications or oral medications or as a combination of both.

The most common topical prescription medications for acne are:
-Retinoids and retinoid-like drugs
-Antibiotics often combined with benzoyl peroxide
-Azelaic acid and salicylic acid
-Dapsone

The most common oral medications prescribed for acne are:
-Antibiotics such as tetracycline (minocycline, doxycycline) or a macrolide (erythromycin, azithromycin)
-Some of the combined oral contraceptives
-Anti-androgen agents
-Isotretinoin

Sometimes, the doctor may recommend some therapies that might be helpful, either alone or in combination with medications. These procedures work by removing damaged skin and reducing oil production. They include:
-Photodynamic therapy
-Dermabrasion
-Chemical peel

Treatment for acne is often successful. Usually, people can expect their acne to begin clearing up within six to eight weeks. However, sometimes, one may require additional or long-term treatment. It is always better to start the treatment at the earliest as early treatment can prevent long term complications like scars.

At Kingsway Hospitals, the department of dermatology offers treatment for all skin, hair and nail related disorders with a wide range of treatment modalities for all cosmetological and ageing-related concerns.