Acne Vulgaris, commonly known as acne, is a skin condition caused by the clogging of pores with oil and dead cells. It manifests through the appearance of blackheads, whiteheads, or pimples on the face, shoulders, back, and chest.
Research can help you understand your skin type and the kind of acne you may face. However, it is not a replacement of an expert’s opinion. For professional guidance, be sure to visit the best dermatologist in Lahore , or the best one in your region.
While there are a number of reasons for acne breakouts, the most common ones are listed below.
Causes of Acne:
- Rise of Angroden Levels:
One of the major reasons for acne is the rise of a hormone in human body called Angroden. With the onset of puberty, androgen levels in blood tend to rise. This causes oil glands under the skin to grow. The enlarged oil glands then produce more than usual sebum, resulting in pimples. Pregnancy and the use of contraceptives may also alter hormone levels, which then results in acne.
- Bacteria:
Bacteria living on the skin may contaminate the inflated hair follicles or pores, causing acne breakouts.
- Genetics:
For some people, acne runs in the family. If one has a family history, especially if either of the parent has acne, chances of acne increase.
- Certain medication:
Some medications can result in acne breakouts. These include drugs containing corticosteroids, testosterone or lithium
- Certain clothing:
Certain types of clothing trap sweat. This often results in acne on the back, shoulders and arms. Tight clothing makes it difficult for the skin to breathe, causing pores to clog up.
Treatment:
Treatment for acne varies according to the kind of acne one faces. A number of different methods are used to get rid of pimples. It is always advisable to see a dermatologist before adopting any sort of treatment. Generally however, acne treatments can be categorized into 3 types; topical, oral, and therapies.
- Topical medication:
This method refers to the applying medication on the affected areas. The most common ones include:
- Retinoids and retinoid-like drugs:
Creams, gels and lotions derived from vitamin A that include tretinoin (Avita, Retin-A, others), adapalene (Differin) and tazarotene (Tazorac, Avage) are one of the most frequently used topical regime for acne. The frequency of application varies according to one’s skin condition, as recommended by a detmatologist. These medicines help prevent the plugging of the hair follicles
- Antibiotics+ Benzoyl peroxide:
This method involves the use of a combination of antibiotics ( such as Clindamycin, Erythromycin etc) with Benzoyl Peroxide since topical antibiodics along are not advised. These medicines kill excess bacteria on the skin and help in reducing redness
- Salicylic acid and Azelaic acid:
Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring acid found in whole-grain cereals and animal products. It is used in the treatment of acne owing to its antibacterial properties. Salicylic acid can help in preventing plugged hair follicles
- Dapsone:
Dapsone (Aczone) 5 percent is an anti-inflammatory, sometimes used to treat acne in adults in children over 12
- Oral medications:
Oral medications refer to the intake of medication by mouth. Some common ones for acne include:
- Antibiotics:
Often used to reduce bacteria and combat inflammation in case of moderate to severe acne
- Combined oral contraceptives:
Used for acne therapy in women who also wish to use them for contraception. They are products that combine estrogen and progestin (Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Yaz, others)
- Anti-androgen agents:
Work by blocking the effect of androgen hormones on the sebaceous glands
- :
Isotretinoin (Amnesteem, Claravis, Sotret) is a powerful drug for people whose severe acne doesn’t respond to other treatments
- Therapies
These therapies may be suggested only in certain cases, either alone or in combination with medications. Some of the most common ones are:
- Lasers and photodynamic therapy.
- Chemical peel. .
- Extraction of whiteheads and blackheads
- Steroid injection
While it may be helpful to understand causes and remedies of acne, it is imperative that professional help is sought by the best dermatologist in Karachi, or any other skin specialist practicing in your area.