Acne
Acne is a common skin condition that affects most people at some point. It causes spots, oily skin and sometimes skin that’s hot or painful to touch.
Acne most commonly develops on the:-
• Face – this affects almost everyone with acne
• Back – this affects more than half of people with acne
• Chest – this affects about 15% of people with acne
Types of spots:-
There are six main types of spot caused by acne:
• Blackheads – small black or yellowish bumps that develop on the skin; they’re not filled with dirt, but are black because the inner lining of the hair follicle produces pigmentation (colouring)
• Whiteheads – have a similar appearance to blackheads, but may be firmer and won’t empty when squeezed
• Papules – small red bumps that may feel tender or sore
• Pustules – similar to papules, but have a white tip in the centre, caused by a build-up of pus
• Nodules – large hard lumps that build up beneath the surface of the skin and can be painful
• Cysts – the most severe type of spot caused by acne; they’re large pus-filled lumps that look similar to boils and carry the greatest risk of causing permanent scarring.
Diagnosing acne:-
How many spots you have and how painful and inflamed they are will help determine how severe your acne is. This is important in planning your treatment.
Four grades can be used to measure the severity of acne:
• Grade 1 (mild) – acne is mostly confined to whiteheads and blackheads, with just a few papules and pustules
• Grade 2 (moderate) – there are multiple papules and pustules, which are mostly confined to the face
• Grade 3 (moderately severe) – there’s a large number of papules and pustules, as well as the occasional inflamed nodule, and the back and chest are also affected by acne
• Grade 4 (severe) – there’s a large number of large, painful pustules and nodules
Treatment acne:-
Treatment for acne depends on how severe it is. It can take several months of treatment before acne symptoms improve.
The various treatments for acne are outlined below. You can also read a summary of the pros and cons of the treatments for acne, allowing you to compare your treatment options. If you just have a few blackheads, whiteheads and spots, you should be able to treat them successfully with over-the-counter gels or creams (topical treatments) that contain benzoyl peroxide.
Prescription medications that can be used to treat acne include:-
• Topical retinoids
• Topical antibiotics
• Azelaic acid
• Antibiotic tablets
• In women, the combined oral contraceptive pill
• Isotretinoin tablets
A combination of antibiotic tablets and topical treatments is usually the first treatment option for severe acne. If this doesn’t work, a medication called isotretinoin may be prescribed. Hormonal therapies or the combined oral contraceptive pill can also be effective in women who have acne. However, the
-only pill or contraceptive implant can sometimes make acne worse.
Many of these treatments can take two to three months before they start to work. It’s important to be patient and persist with a recommended treatment, even if there’s no immediate effect.