Acne
Acne is a chronic skin disorder caused by inflammation of the hair follicles and the sebaceous (oil) glands in the skin. The disorder produces skin blemishes commonly called pimples. The blemishes usually appear on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Although it is not a serious condition, acne can cause scarring that can affect your appearance.
Acne occurs when hair follicles become blocked by plugs of sebum, the oily secretion produced by the sebaceous glands that lubricates the skin and hair. Bacteria then grow in the blocked follicles, causing inflammation. People with acne usually have a number of different types of blemishes, including whiteheads, which appear on the skin as small, white bumps, and blackheads, which look like black spots. Other blemishes include papules, which are inflamed pink bumps that are tender to the touch, and pustules or pimples, which are inflamed, pus-filled bumps that are red at the base. Painful, inflamed, pus-filled bumps that are lodged deep in the skin are known as cysts; they can produce scarring.
People of any age can develop acne, but it most commonly occurs in adolescents. Almost 85 percent of all teenagers and young adults between ages 12 and 24 have some acne. Acne usually clears up by the time a person reaches his or her 30s, but some people in their 40s and 50s still have the condition. Acne is more common among whites.
A number of factors can contribute to the development of acne. Rising levels of male sex hormones called androgens during puberty cause the oil-producing sebaceous glands to make more sebum. Another factor appears to be heredity. The tendency to develop acne seems to run in families. Stress can aggravate the condition, as can perspiration and high levels of humidity. Friction from tight collars, backpacks, or bike helmets also can make acne worse. Picking at the blemishes can produce scarring. Certain drugs, including lithium and barbiturates, may cause outbreaks of acne. Contrary to popular belief, chocolate and greasy foods seem to have little effect on the development of acne in most people.
There is a wide range of nonprescription acne-treatment products available. Most limit the formation of new blackheads and whiteheads and reduce inflammation. The most common over-the-counter drugs used to treat acne are benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid, and sulfur. These medications can produce side effects, including skin irritation, burning, or redness, but the side effects disappear when the person stops using the product.
By the time a person decides to see a doctor, he or she has probably tried several over-the-counter medications and seen little improvement. Acne may be treated by a dermatologist, but family physicians and internists also treat people who have acne. The main goal of treatment is to prevent scarring, but doctors also seek to reduce the number of blemishes and minimize the embarrassment felt by people affected with a skin disease. Drugs prescribed to treat acne address several causes: clumping of cells in the hair follicles, increased oil production, bacterial infection, and inflammation. Your doctor may recommend a combination of medications to reach these goals.
Topical (applied to the skin) prescription drugs used to treat acne include benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin phosphate, erythromycin, adapalene, azelaic acid, and tretinoin. Tretinoin is a vitamin A derivative and is very effective for treating whiteheads and blackheads. Side effects from these drugs can include stinging, burning, redness, peeling, scaling, and discoloration of the skin. If you experience side effects, tell your doctor as soon as possible.
For people with moderate or severe acne, doctors may prescribe oral antibiotics in addition to a cream, lotion, or gel. Antibiotics help control acne by checking the growth of bacteria and reducing inflammation. They must be taken for at least 4 to 6 weeks to be effective. Some of these antibiotics may make the skin more sensitive to the sun, so you will need to take extra precautions when in sunlight. They also can cause upset stomach, dizziness, and skin discoloration. A doctor may prescribe a powerful medication called isotretinoin for people who have severe acne that has not responded to treatment with other acne medications. Isotretinoin can produce a number of unwanted side effects, some of which—such as increased blood cholesterol, abnormal liver enzyme levels, and birth defects—can be serious. While you are taking the drug, your doctor will monitor the levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides (fats), and liver enzymes in your blood. Discuss the risks and the benefits of taking isotretinoin with your dermatologist, who can help you decide whether use of this drug is the best treatment for you.
Other treatments for acne include removal of individual blemishes, injection of a corticosteroid drug into a cyst, or a chemical peel. Cosmetic surgery is sometimes used to treat scarring caused by acne.
If you have acne, do not attempt to stop an outbreak or reduce oil production by aggressively scrubbing your skin or using strong soaps. This will only make the problem worse. Instead, gently wash your skin with a mild soap whenever it feels oily or greasy. And always wash your face after exercising. Your doctor can recommend the best soap or cleanser to use. Avoid squeezing, picking, or pinching your skin because doing so could cause even more inflammation and eventual scarring. Soften your beard with soap and water before shaving, and shave lightly to avoid nicking the blemishes. Do not try to dry out your skin or hide the blemishes by getting a suntan, because the benefits are temporary at best. Exposure to the sun can seriously damage your skin, can promote premature aging of your skin, and can cause skin cancer. Also, many drugs used to treat acne make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
Posted in Skin and Hair
Comments (1)
[...] Original post by admin [...]