Acne (Acne Vulgaris): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Acne is a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. It causes whiteheads, blackheads or pimples. Acne is most common among teenagers, though it affects people of all ages.

Effective acne treatments are available, but acne can be persistent. The pimples and bumps heal slowly, and when one begins to go away, others seem to crop up.

Depending on its severity, acne can cause emotional distress and scar the skin. The earlier you start treatment, the lower your risk of such problems.

Symptoms

Acne signs vary depending on the severity of your condition:

  • Whiteheads (closed plugged pores)

  • Blackheads (open plugged pores)

  • Small red, tender bumps (papules)

  • Pimples (pustules), which are papules with pus at their tips

  • Large, solid, painful lumps under the skin (nodules)

  • Painful, pus-filled lumps under the skin (cystic lesions)

Acne usually appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders.

Causes

Four main factors cause acne:

  • Excess oil (sebum) production

  • Hair follicles clogged by oil and dead skin cells

  • Bacteria

  • Inflammation

Acne typically appears on your face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders because these areas of skin have the most oil (sebaceous) glands. Hair follicles are connected to oil glands.

The follicle wall may bulge and produce a whitehead. Or the plug may be open to the surface and darken, causing a blackhead. A blackhead may look like dirt stuck in pores. But actually the pore is congested with bacteria and oil, which turns brown when it's exposed to the air.

Pimples are raised red spots with a white center that develop when blocked hair follicles become inflamed or infected with bacteria. Blockages and inflammation deep inside hair follicles produce cystlike lumps beneath the surface of your skin. Other pores in your skin, which are the openings of the sweat glands, aren't usually involved in acne.

Certain things may trigger or worsen acne:

Hormonal changes. Androgens are hormones that increase in boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Hormone changes during midlife, particularly in women, can lead to breakouts too.

Certain medications. Examples include drugs containing corticosteroids, testosterone or lithium.

Diet. Studies indicate that consuming certain foods — including carbohydrate-rich foods, such as bread, bagels and chips — may worsen acne. Further study is needed to examine whether people with acne would benefit from following specific dietary restrictions.

Stress. Stress doesn't cause acne, but if you have acne already, stress may make it worse.

How to manage Acne

Although Acne has no known cure, victims can manage its symptoms. Anyone who has Acne need not panic as there are various treatment options.

There are extensive assortments of home and medical options out there. These options are effective against acne symptoms.

Medical Remedies (Over the Counter)

Topical Antibiotics. Topical Antibiotics assist in the treatment of skin infections such as Acne. In this case, it manages the bacterium that often aggravates the swelling of Acne on the face. Hence, topical antibiotics for Acne includes erythromycin and clindamycin.

Benzoyl Peroxide. Just like topical antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide is effective against acne symptoms. It eliminates bacteria and dead skin cells that plug your pores. Dryness is a common side effect. Examples of benzoyl products are Stridex, Clearasil, and many others.

Salicylic Acid. Salicylic Acid minimizes the symptoms of Acne through the exfoliation of the skin. It also guards against future breakouts. Itching is a common side effect.

Dapsone. Like Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic Acid, Dapsone has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that kill acne-causing bacteria. You can apply it to inflamed Acne. For effective results, you should use it on the affected area twice a day.

Azelaic Acid. Azelaic Acid is an organic acid present in various grains such as wheat, barley, etc. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it effective in the treatment of Acne. The Acid can avert future breakouts and clean the bacteria that causes Acne. Inflammation is a common side effect. Finacea gel and Azelex are the two brand variants for Azelaic acid topical types.

The medications mentioned above are typically applied topically. They have a proven record. Individuals with acne conditions may require at least one or two, depending on the acuteness of their requirements.

Home Remedies

Although the medical options are helpful, not everyone can afford them. If you do not have sufficient funds to purchase them, you can opt for home remedies. Simple home remedies range from a honey mask, cucumber face pack to an oatmeal mask.

Note that not all options are suitable for everyone. So, it would help to contact a dermatologist to map out medications that match your condition. The essence is to guard against drug interactions and allergies.