Acne is a very common skin disorder that occurs as a result of inflammation of the small oil glands (sebaceous glands) surrounding the fine hairs on the face and chest. The young people in early puberty are mostly affected by this skin disorder.
Acne turns severe and reaches at its peak nearly at the age group of 17-10. Many people with acne tend to recover when they reach their mid-20s. However, people who are very sensitive to this disorder may continue to have even after reaching their 40s.
Acne can also be caused due to hormonal changes pertaining to pregnancy or menstrual periods. Various environmental factors such as pollution, intense heat, humidity or cold, also influence acne.
What causes acne?
The level of male sex hormones (androgens) during puberty goes up in both girls and boys, resulting in the production of more sebum with stimulation of the sebaceous glands.
In some people, the sebaceous glands are observed to be extremely sensitive to androgens. Sometimes acne in such people, particularly the men, becomes so severe that it needs medical treatment.
The openings of the sebaceous glands become narrower with the increase in production of sebum, preventing the sebum from getting out. In the meantime production of sebum continues no matter it is prevented from getting out.
Pimples are formed often due to Propionebacterium acnes, which is a common bacterium on the skin feeding on sebum. The waste products and fatty acids, which are produced by the bacterium, irritate the sebaceous glands making them inflamed.
What are the symptoms?
The small, tender, red spots that initially appear as first symptoms later lead to formation of pimples with degraded fatty acids. The inflammation goes away in the next few days or weeks in accordance with its severity.
Severe acne may result in scars that are unlikely to go away. Acne can also be disturbing, stressful and disabling and therefore it is essential to go for an early effective treatment.
Factors worsening acne
Damp environment. Exposure to oil, grease and other chemicals may turn acne more severe.
Tension or emotional stress
Squeezing pimples
Menstrual periods
Certain drugs and chemicals
Home Remedies for Acne
Use a mild cleanser to wash your face at least twice a day. Remove sweat whenever it comes out on your skin. Avoid scrubbing your face as it may worsen your acne.
Don't adopt hairstyles with hair in constant touch with your face. Apply shampoo regularly on your hair.
Avoid squeezing or picking at the pimples as it may worsen acne resulting in formation of scars. This is one of the useful home remedies for acne.
Avoid over exposure of your skin to cold, head and sunlight. Though sunlight may provide you relief from your acne for a sometime, it won't cure it. Overexposure to sunlight may cause burning and even skin cancer.
Apply a water-based moisturizer. Avoid use of greasy or oily creams and foundations as they may clog up the pores causing formation of pimples.
No scientific evidence is available to show that certain foods may lead to acne. But in case you observe that spots increases with eating certain things, you would better avoid them.
Always take a sensible and varied diet and drink lots of water besides doing regular exercise. Your skin will improve if you will good. This is the best home remedies for acne.
Seek advice of a beautician on how to take care of your skin.
Over-the-counter medications may be used to treat mild acne. Visit a pharmacist to seek advice on products. Try these products for six to eight weeks and then find out if they are effective in treatment of mild acne. Remember that you expect acne go away overnight. You have wait for some time for control on acne.
When to see a doctor?
If you did not get effective results from over-the-counter medications six to eight weeks after using them.
If acne turns out to be psychologically distressful.
In case big, tender pimples developed on your skin.
If the acne results in formation of scars.
If you notice that your skin turned dark and pimples turned into dark patches.
What is the treatment?
The treatment for acne depends upon the severity of the condition. For better medical advice your doctor may think of referring you to a dermatologist or skin specialist.
Medications that are either meant for external application or taking orally can be used in treatment for acne.
The treatment may involve negating the factors that trigger acne. The rise in production of sebum that makes sebaceous glands narrower and bacteria may be the triggering factors for acne.
You can adopt the home-treatment method as mentioned above simultaneously while undergoing medical treatment. But you will have to wait for at least six to eight weeks after undergoing treatment to observe the effect.
Local treatment for application to the skin
If you are having mild to moderate acne you can go through the treatment with either azelaic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Skinoren cream contains Azelaic acid whereas Panoxyl and Acnecide are used as benzoyl. Such medications will prevent the openings of the sebaceous glands from becoming narrower besides slowing the growth of acne bacterium.
Your doctor may also prescribe a product comprising benzoyl peroxide and topical antibiotic like erythromycin or clindamycin. Another option that your doctor may try is to prescribe topical antibiotics like Dalacin T (as a clindamycin), erythromycin (in the form of Eryacne gel) or tetracycline (for example Topicycline) to control the outbreak.
Adapalene (Differin) may also be prescribed for the people having blackheads, whiteheads or suffering mild inflammatory acne.
For women who are consuming contraceptive pills, it is advisable to use adapalene. However, pregnant women should avoid adapalene. The use and exclusion of topical tretinoin such as Retin-A are quite similar to that of isotretinoin (Isotrex gel).
How to remove scars
Scars, which are often the results of severe acne, may be removed with abrasion or laser treatment. Such treatments can be effective in removal of scars if they were carried out either by a skin specialist or a plastic surgeon.
