What is acne?
Acne is a long-term skin condition that includes several types of lesions, including: blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, nodules, and cysts. Acne is caused by decreased skin cell shedding, increased amounts of sebum (oil produced by glands), inflammation (swelling, redness, pain) and bacteria (P. acnes).
Acne is a common skin condition that occurs when hair follicles become clogged. Sebum (oil that helps keep the skin from drying out) and dead skin cells clog pores, causing outbreaks of lesions, commonly known as pimples. Most commonly, the breakouts occur on the face, but they can also appear on the back, chest, and shoulders.
Other factors such as genetics, hormones, mechanical stimulation (squeezing, squeezing, rubbing), certain medications (corticosteroids), and certain cosmetics can also affect acne. Untreated acne affects the overall quality of life and can cause pigment changes, scarring and emotional stress.
Who gets acne?
Acne accounts for more than 3.5 million general practitioner appointments per year. It affects 80% of people at some point between 11 and 30 years of age. During adolescence, acne is more common in male than female patients. Acne can also occur in adults and is more prevalent in women. It can develop for the first time over the age of 25 years and is thought to affect up to 20% of women and 8% of men. Of those suffering with the disease, 20% have severe disease that is likely to lead to scarring.
Types of acne:
Acne is characterised by comedones, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts, as follows:
- Comedones are the most basic acne lesion and can be open or closed. Closed comedones (whiteheads) are small plugged follicles whose contents are not exposed to the skin surface. Open comedones (blackheads) are small follicles with dilated openings onto the skin. The black colour results from oxidation of the debris within the follicle.
- Papules are small, usually red, raised elevations of the skin.
- Pustules resemble papules but have a central pocket of pus.
- Nodules and cysts are larger painful swellings usually more than 5 mm in size.
Acne stages (Severity):
Stage 1 Mild: blackheads, whiteheads, closed comedones, few inflammatory breakouts
Stage 2 Mild/moderate: blackheads and whiteheads with some inflammatory papules, and pustules
Stage 3 Moderate: many blackheads and whiteheads, with small and large inflammatory papules, pustules.
Stage 4 Severe: Many blackheads, whiteheads, and inflammatory breakouts: papules, pustules, cysts and nodules.
References:
Anjali Mahto, (2017). Acne vulgaris, Medicine, 45;6, pp. 386-389, 1357-3039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mpmed.2017.03.003 .
Chovatiya R. (2021). Acne Treatment. JAMA. 326(20):2087. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.16599 .
Causes of acne:
Acne may be caused by decreased skin turnover and shedding, increased production of sebum (an oily, waxy substance produced by glands to lubricate the skin), and certain types of skin bacteria. Other factors include genetics, hormones, mechanical stimulation (friction, rubbing, picking, squeezing), certain drugs (such as corticosteroids), and skin care products and cosmetics.
- Hormones: An increase in androgens, which are male sex hormones, can lead to acne. These normally increase in both boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and produce more sebum. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy can also cause acne.
- Family history: Researchers believe that you are more likely to get acne if your parents had acne.
- Medicines: Certain medications, such as those containing hormones, corticosteroids, and lithium, can cause acne.
- Age: People of all ages can get acne, but it’s more common in teens.
The following do not cause acne but can make it worse.
- Diet: Some studies show that eating certain foods can make acne worse.
- Stress: Pressure from sports helmet, tight clothing or backpacks.
- Environmental irritants: such as pollution and high humidity. Picking or Squeezing pimples or exfoliating your skin too rough.
Which products do we recommend:
Frequently asked
questions
A patient with acne usually presents with a history of acne breakouts, most commonly affecting the face, back, chest and shoulders. You may have symptoms of pain, redness or tenderness. Additionally, acne can have a psychological impact, regardless of the severity of disease.
The different types of acne include:
- Pimples (pustules): Pus-filled bumps
- Papules: Small discoloured bumps often red to purple or darker than your natural skin tone.
- Blackheads: Plugged pores with a black top.
- Whiteheads: Clogged pores with a white top.
- Nodules: Large lumps under your skin that are painful.
- Cysts: Painful fluid-filled (pus) lumps under your skin.
Acne is a skin condition caused by clogged pores. The pores can become clogged with sebum and dead skin cells, which can lead to the appearance of pimples, blackheads and other rashes. Bacteria can also play a role in the development of acne.
The bacteria Propionibacterium acnes can get into the pores and cause inflammation. The inflammation can lead to the appearance of pimples, pustules, and other forms of acne. So while bacteria can play a role in the development of acne, it’s not the only cause. Other factors, such as hormones, genetics, and certain foods, can also contribute to the development of acne.
The best treatment for your acne will depend on the severity of the acne and other factors, such as your age, skin type, and any allergies you may have. If you are unsure about which treatment is best for your acne, it is wise to consult our dermatologists for advice.
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There are several acne treatments available, including:
- Plason Treatment: This treatment uses a device that ionizes air to kill acne bacteria.
- Chemical peels: A chemical peel is a treatment in which a chemical agent is applied to the skin to remove the top layer of the skin. This can help exfoliate the skin and prevent breakouts.
- Extractions in the SKIN Facial: a SKIN Facial is a facial treatment in which the skin is cleaned, exfoliated and hydrated. During the treatment, extractions can also be performed to remove blackheads and pimples.
- Aquapeel: This treatment uses a device that provides mechanical and chemical exfoliation. It can help exfoliate the skin and prevent pimples from forming.
- Good home products: It is important to use the right skin care products if you suffer from acne. Choose products that are non-comedogenic (non-pore-clogging) and specifically formulated for acne-prone skin
There are different types of treatments for acne, depending on the severity, you will receive individual advice on which treatment or combination of treatments will give the best result. It can take 2-3 months to see results with acne treatments.
You can see a visible difference in the reduction of scarring, inflammation and scarring after 6-12 months. The goal is to maintain healthy skin on a regular treatment regimen to maintain and maintain the skin’s barrier function. You may need more frequent sessions in the first few months of treatment. We also customize treatment schedules based on your needs and preferences.
Purging is a common side-effect of acne treatments as acne lesions are caused by blockages in the pores, below the surface of the skin. When acne-treating actives are used (retinoids or AHA/BHA ingredients) the skin cells are dissolved to decongest the pores, this may cause a larger number of breakouts initially which will usually subside in subsequent weeks or months.
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