Learn more about acne

Published on October 13, 2022 By Gentle Touch | Last updated on October 13, 2022

Acne is a widespread skin disease that usually appears during adolescence or young adulthood in 85% of cases. These pimples are formed because the hair follicles under the skin are clogged, so they become inflamed, and an infection of the follicular pore occurs. 

Acne is a dermatological pathology originating in the abnormal functioning of the pilosebaceous apparatus and encompasses clogged pores, pimples, and deeper bumps that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders, and even upper arms.  

Untreated or poorly controlled acne, in addition to being extremely annoying, damaging the individual's image, and causing psychological distress, can lead to severe and permanent scarring. 

What is acne? 

Acne is a common skin disease in which the hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead cells, causing blackheads or pimples on the face, chest, or back. The activity of the sebaceous glands, the production of hormones such as androgens, and certain medications can worsen acne. 

Although acne may affect anyone, young people usually suffer from that condition. Some particular forms of acne, such as occupational acne, can affect adults exposed to certain industrial products. There can also be acne in newborns or drug-induced acne, which people who take certain medications, such as oral corticosteroids.  

Causes 

The exact cause of acne is unknown, although in most cases, it is related to hormonal changes, such as those that occur during adolescence, menstruation, or pregnancy. Other causes may be that the glands secrete excessive sebum, use some cosmetics and products for oily hair, administer some drugs, and excessive sweating. It is sometimes claimed that chocolate or fatty foods can cause acne, but there is no evidence to prove this. 

• Acne does not have a single cause but corresponds to a multifactorial disease. Thus, acne can be due to one or several factors:  
• Sebaceous overproduction is produced by clogging the hair follicles, on which inflammation and infection appear.  
• The proliferation of cutibacterium acnes, a bacterium found in the sebaceous glands, causes the appearance of acne.  
• Hormonal disorders related to male sex hormones are associated with the appearance of acne in adolescence and adulthood.
• Clogging of hair follicles, usually because of dead skin cells and oil. This can lead to the proliferation of Cutibacterium acnes bacteria that can break the pore wall and facilitate access to other bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, that cause infection. 

However, most cases of acne do not have a definite cause. Many cases of acne are strongly influenced by stress. For example, the cortisol peaks that occur lead to small acne outbreaks. The same would be true of certain hormonal disturbances that can lead to the appearance of skin lesions at certain times.  

Symptoms 

Acne lesions are mainly located in those areas where there is a more significant number of sebaceous glands, such as the face (forehead, cheeks, and chin) and the thorax (back, shoulders and chest). 

The most frequent form of presentation of acne, as he explains, is the appearance of the following symptoms: 

• Pimples that appear as red lesions under the skin with or without a central white area are called abscesses. 

• Deeper lesions such as cysts and nodules.  

• It is not uncommon for the menstrual cycle to cause small pimples or acne outbreaks to appear in women. It can also occur during pregnancy because of hormonal changes. 

The age of maximum prevalence of acne and its devastating effects on image in a stage of life in which this is a significant value make this banal pathology the origin of many psychological disorders, influencing social relations or hindering student or work activity. The present work deals with the etiology, classification, treatment, and care of acne skin. 

Can it be prevented? 

Although there is no single way to prevent acne, there are certain cleaning and hygiene measures that can help prevent the appearance of this condition.  

Selection of cosmetics 

Regular exfoliation of the skin and the use of oil-free cosmetics are measures that prevent the worsening of acne or reduce its presence. The dermatologist can recommend the most suitable products for our skin type. 

Avoid touching your face with your hands, fingers, or cell phone can help prevent the spread of acne since frictional contact is a risk factor for worsening acne. It is also crucial to remove make-up every night and to follow a skin cleansing routine, especially of the face, every morning when getting up and every night at bedtime. 

What is the treatment? 

Treatment for acne depends on the disease's extent and the lesions' severity. Specialists recommend starting treatments as soon as possible to avoid scarring. Treatment may be based on medication or creams, but acne scar laser can also be used. 

All types of acne, whether mild, moderate, or severe, are amenable to treatment. Mild acne does not require treatment from a medical point of view because it is not a severe problem, but it does from a cosmetic point of view. This is because nowadays, we want our skin to be as healthy as possible and our face to look clean and free of impurities.  

What is clear is that moderate and severe ones should be treated. The treatment is carried out following the expert guidelines for the approach to acne and individualizing each case.  

In this way, the treatment will be either treatment or prophylactic, depending on the type of acne. It can include cosmetic creams and topical or oral treatments, without forgetting that acne treatment must always be prescribed and monitored by a dermatology specialist.   

At Gentle Touch, we will help you to get the skin that you want. If you have questions about our skin treatments, do not hesitate to contact the Gentle Touch Team to get a Free Consultation. Please call (860) 216-6225 to schedule your appointment or email info@GentleTouchCT.com.