Acne is a type of common skin condition. The skin has tiny pores that get blocked by oil, dead skin cells, dirt, and bacteria. Due to this, the skin develops a pimple or blemish. When a person gets pimples often like repeatedly then you have acne. In simple terms, acne is the type of skin condition that causes pimples. It is a very common condition and about 9.5% of people around the globe face acne issues. Acne does not cause any risk to your health. But acne problems can result in scarring if not treated carefully. Severe acne can also become very painful. Facing acne can cause emotional distress. Everyone wants to be confident in his/her looks. But acne or acne scars on the face or any visible body part can lower self-esteem. Many people also start getting anxiety or stress due to acne. But the good thing is that acne and acne scars can be treated. Lots of treatments are available to remove acne and scars.
Different types of acne
Blackheads: These are very common types of acne that are open at the surface of the skin. The top layer of the pimple looks darker due to the oxygen in the air.
Whitehead: Whiteheads are closed and look like raised bumps under the surface of the skin.
Blackheads and whiteheads are very common but they are less likely to leave scars. Inflammatory lesions can cause scar problems in the skin.
Papules: These are red, raised bumps and are mainly caused by infected hair follicles.
Nodules: These are solid types of acne and are usually painful that occur beneath the skin’s surface.
Pustules: These acnes appear as red pimples and have pus inside them.
Cysts: These are large lumps under the skin and contain pus. Cysts are usually very painful.
What are the common symptoms of acne?
Acne can appear in any part of the body. But mostly the acne appears on:
- Face
- Neck
- Back
- Shoulders
- Chest
Due to acne, skin becomes rough with an uneven texture.
When a person is facing acne, he might experience
- Skin discoloration
- Swelling
- Inflammation
- Pain
- Tenderness
Acne can cause skin discoloration or scarring. Lots of people pop pimples, but popping them increases the chances of getting scars. Instead of popping them, you should check for the treatment options.
What are the common causes of acne?
The skin develops acne when its pores get filled with oil, bacteria, and dead skin. The skin pore opens to a follicle. This follicle is made of sebaceous glands and hair. Sebaceous is the oil gland that releases sebum (oil) to make the skin soft. But some type of mishap on the skin’s softness leads to acne. The skin develops acne when:
- Dead skin cells accumulate in the pores
- Follicles are producing extra oil
- Pores get filled with bacteria
Any of these conditions can cause pimples. The bacteria grow inside the clogged pore and lead to acne issues.
Risk factors to develop acne
Several factors can increase the chances of getting acne. Not only dust or oil but some physical and mental cause can also increase the risk of developing acne.
- Changes in hormone level during puberty or pregnancy
- PCOS
- Poor sleep
- Smoking
- Stress
- Products (creams, cleansers, moisturizers, etc) with high oil content
- Medications like lithium, birth control, steroids, etc
- Genes
Getting acne is very common during puberty. During puberty, the body faces lots of hormonal changes. These changes often trigger extra oil production that causes acne. This acne problem improves when a person reaches adulthood.
Certain diets can also cause acne-like dairy products, processed meats, etc.
Treatment for acne
Treatment for mild acne
If the acne condition is mild then you can use OTC creams, cleaners, etc to remove acne and pimples. These gels are available in any medical store. While searching for gels, check for the ingredients.
Salicylic acid: It exfoliates the skin to prevent pores clogging that causes acne.
Benzoyl peroxide: It dries out the pimples and prevents new acne formation.
Treatment for moderate acne
If the OTC medicines are not working on your acne problems then you should check for professional treatment. Your dermatologist may prescribe you certain medicines to reduce acne and prevent scarring. Your doctor may recommend:
Prescriptions like strong benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics like erythromycin, and retinoids like retinol.
Treatment for severe acne
If the acne problem is very severe then your dermatologist may recommend oral antibiotics, topical antibiotics, benzoyl antibiotics, topical retinoids, etc. Sometimes the doctor may also suggest birth control medicines for acne problems.
Natural medication
Treating your acne problem with natural medication is also a helpful method. Homeopathy doctors in New York examine the acne condition and prescribe the best natural medicines. These medicines will not only reduce the acne problem but also prevent a recurrence. Natural medicines fight the underlying conditions and treat acne without any side effects.
Common medical procedures to treat acne
Photodynamic therapy
In this therapy, your dermatologist will use medicines and special light or laser to rescue the bacteria and oil formation. Laser treatment can also help in preventing scarring.
Chemical peel
In a chemical peel, the top layers of the skin are removed. The less damaged skin will appear on the top. This therapy improves acne scarring issues
Dermabrasion
This is an exfoliation type therapy where the top layer is removed with a rotating brush. Dermabrasion is used to treat acne scarring, not acne problems. Your doctor may suggest a microdermabrasion that removes dead skin cells.
Cortisone injection
This treatment is used to reduce skin inflammation and promote healing. Doctors often suggest cortisone with other treatments when a person is facing large cysts.
Home remedies to remove acne scars
If you want to remove your acne scars naturally, you don’t have to visit the drug store. Honey is one of the best home remedies to remove acne. It is used for lots of skin problems like burns, wounds, etc. Aloe vera is also very helpful in treating acne scars. It reduces inflammation and heals the skin. You can use aloe vera gels or you can directly extract the sticky gel from the leaf. Some other home remedies that can treat acne scarring are black seed oil, rosehip seed oil, and lemon juice.