What Is Acne – A Brief Users Guide

Acne is a very embarrassing skin condition that can affect people of all ages, although it tends to be more common in teenagers and women. Most people suffer from spots and blocked pores at various times in their life: for the majority of us the occasional spot is unsightly, but something we can cope with. But acne is far worse than one or two spots and in the most severe of cases, the skin becomes one mass of infected cysts and lesions, which can cause significant psychological damage as well as long term physical scars.

What are the symptoms of acne?

The symptoms of acne are skin lesions caused by blocked and infected hair follicles. We usually associate spots with acne, but there are different types of skin lesion and acne is normally classified according to the severity of the skin problems.

Blackheads and whiteheads (or closed and open pores) are the least severe symptoms of acne. Blackheads are formed by an enlarged hair follicle that becomes blocked with dead skin cells, bacteria and excess sebum. Whiteheads are small white bumps under the surface of the skin.

Papules are small red spots caused by the infection from a burst whitehead. The body’s immune system responds to the bacterial infection, causing inflammation to spread into the surrounding skin tissues. When a spot fills with pus, it is then referred to as a pustule.

Nodules are hard lumps beneath the surface of the skin. They look nasty and are usually very painful to touch.

Cysts are the most serious form of acne skin lesions. Like a nodule, a cyst is a large spot that resembles a boil. Cysts are full of pus and can be excruciatingly painful. They are also the lesion that is most likely to cause permanent scarring in the acne patient.

Acne lesions can appear anywhere on the body, but they are most common on the face, shoulders, chest and back.

What are the different types of acne?

There are three different types of acne, depending on the severity of the skin lesions. Mild acne is characterized by blackheads and whiteheads, mostly on the face. Moderate acne is characterized by blackheads, whiteheads, papules and pustules on the face and possibly the back. Severe acne includes cysts and nodules and tends to cover a much more extensive area of the body.

What causes acne?

Acne is caused by too much sebum. Sebaceous glands in the skin produce sebum to keep the skin moisturized, but in a person with acne, an excess of sebum builds up and blocks the hair follicles. Blocked hair follicles become whiteheads and blackheads, and once infection sets in, papules, pustules, cysts and nodules.

Acne in teenagers is caused by increased levels of testosterone during puberty, which leads to an over production of sebum from the sebaceous glands and the symptoms of acne. Once puberty is over, teenagers usually find that their acne settles down and the spots clear up, but for some, acne can continue into their twenties and thirties and adult acne is a big problem.

Adult acne tends to affect women rather than men, mainly because the underlying cause is hormonal. Pregnancy can trigger adult acne, as can the monthly menstrual cycle—lots of women find that their skin erupts just before their period is due. Adult acne can also occur as a result of certain medications used to treat mental health conditions such as depression.

What is the treatment for acne?

Treatment for acne will normally depend on the severity of the acne, but if self help methods do not work, the first line of treatment would be to try over the counter remedies including face washes and topical lotions designed to help reduce the symptoms of acne. If these do not work, your doctor will be able to prescribe stronger medications, including antibiotics and topical creams to kill skin bacteria and reduce local inflammation.

Mild and moderate acne can usually be brought under control with the help of topical creams and lotions containing benzoyl peroxide, topical antibiotics, retinoids and azalaic acid. These all help to kill bacteria and reduce infection, dry out the excess sebum and unplug blocked hair follicles, and reduce inflammation.

Women suffering from hormonal related acne often find that their symptoms are reduced if they start taking an oral contraceptive. Certain brands can help to improve acne, although it can take several months before any significant improvement is noticed and the pill can cause other side effects including unwanted weight gain and mood changes.

More severe cases of acne may need to be referred to a specialist dermatologist for treatment. The patient will be prescribed longer courses of antibiotics in conjunction with topical treatments. Patients with severe acne may be prescribed isotretinoin by their dermatologist, but it can cause a number of serious side effects and should only be used with extreme caution.

Are there any complications caused by acne?

Severe acne can often leave visible scars on the skin, even after the lesions have faded. This can lead to psychological distress, but there are methods available to help reduce acne scarring in affected people. Treatments for acne scarring include dermabrasion, laser treatments, chemical peels, and surgical subcision to remove deep tissue scars.

The other main complication of acne is the psychological effect the condition can have. Acne can cause high levels of anxiety and upset in affected people, and over time this can lead to depression, which is why it is important to seek help for acne.