What is Acne and Why Do I Have It?

Acne is a common skin disorder. The increase of hormones enlarges the sebaceous gland thus plugging the pores of your skin which causes blemishes.

The most common form is acne vulgaris, experienced around puberty and typically of the face, shoulders and chest.

Nearly everyone has it at some time. It's more common in men during childhood/adolescence. For women, it's usually adulthood.

Approximately 85 percent of people develop this disorder between the ages of 10 and 25. In general, it goes away between the ages of 25 to 30.

Yet for some, it is a continuing problem.

The Different Types of Acne

Noninflammatory

A plugged follicle that stays below the surface of the skin is a whitehead. If the plug pushes through the skins surface, it’s called a blackhead.

Inflammatory
This is commonly referred to as a pimple.

Papule
Papule is the mildest form, and appears on the skin as a small, pink bump.

Pustule
Pustule is a small round lesion, clearly inflamed.

Nodules and Cysts
Nodules and Cysts are large, swollen and painful lesions that have ruptured under the skin. These can cause scarring.

What Causes Acne?

Despite what anyone says, chocolate, pizza, and french fries are not among the causes of blemishes.

The primary problem is that the abnormal flaking of cells inside the hair follicle leads to the formation of a plug. This plug can enlarge and rupture the hair follicle. That causes the follicle to spill oil into the skin that leads to inflammation (swelling and redness.

It is believed acne may be hereditary, and due to genetics. Bacteria can produce substances that cause inflammation.

What Can I Do?

You can develop some good habits to help prevent flare-ups.

Gentle Skin Cleansing

Use a mild cleanser to wash your skin. You should do this each morning and evening, and after any type of activity that causes you to sweat.

Scrubbing excessively is not recommended, this can worsen the problem. Check with your pharmacist for over the counter cleansers. Be sure to follow the instructions.

Avoid Sun Tanning and Sunburns

Acne medication makes your skin prone to sunburn. The risks of excessive sun exposure are skin aging and cancer. Wear protective clothing when you are outside in the light if you can.

Frequent Touching of Your Skin

You should avoid rubbing and touching your skin. Do not pick at the blemishes. This can cause scars as well. Wash your hands prior to applying your medication, and after.

Cosmetics

The cosmetics you choose should be oil free. If you are using medication such as tretinoin or benzoyl peroxide, it can cause redness or scaling of your skin. This makes some cosmetics hard to apply evenly, like foundation.

Additionally, if you have oily hair or use hair products that are oily, shampoo frequently.

Medical Treatments

Over-the-counter Medications

Medications are the primary treatment for acne and normally work well. There are nonprescription treatments you can try such as soaps, cleansers and washes.

Benzoyl peroxide is common in many products over-the-counter. Benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria. It also causes the skin to dry and flake, which prevents the pores from becoming plugged.

Prescription Medications

Antibiotics are effective in treating inflammatory acne. Antibiotics kill the bacteria by reducing the swelling and redness.

Retinoids, made from Vitamin A, are good for several types of lesions. Topical retinoids treat the noninflammatory types of acne. Your doctor may recommend other types of drugs or therapy for you.

If acne becomes severe and is not treated, it can cause scarring that will look like pits. This can be treated. Some of the treatments are skin-sanding or chemical peels. Steroid injections are also used as well as laser treatment.

Your doctor should be able to prescribe the best way to proceed if you would be interested in having scars removed.