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Acne Details

Acne

Understand The - Symptoms, Causes, Tests & Treatment

Acne is a skin disorder that occurs by the affect of bacteria or when the small pores on the surface of the skin become blocked with oil, dead skin cells or beneath the epidermal cell and create pore on the skin to follicle and formation of sebum. As this plug starts to process up against the surface of the skin, the body responds with an accumulation of red and white blood cells and infection, and this results in inflammation and redness. Acne can occur on the face, back, neck, chest, arms, and buttocks, and any other skin area with a saturation of sebaceous pores. The hormonal changes and other factors cause the gland to produce an excess of sebum.

Acne is medically known by the name of Acne Vulgaris generally caused by hormonal changes in the body, usually can be found in teenage years when puberty rears its head. Acne occurs due to the rise of androgen hormone levels. The production of these hormones rise when a child begins puberty, and adolescence.

Acne signs and symptoms 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 beneath the surface of the skin (nodules)
Painful, pus-filled lumps beneath the surface of the skin (cystic lesions)

Causes:

Excess oil production: 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.

Hair follicles clogged by oil and dead skin cells: 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.

Bacteria: Pimples are raised red spots with a white center that develop when blocked hair follicles become inflamed or infected with bacteria. Blockages and inflammation that develop 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.

Hormonal changes: Such changes are common in teenagers, women and girls, and people using certain medications, including those containing corticosteroids, androgens or lithium.

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

Diet: certain dietary factors, including skim milk and carbohydrate-rich foods — such as bread, bagels and chips — may worsen acne. Chocolate has long been suspected of making acne worse.

Stress: Stress can make acne worse.

Oiliness (Sebum) of the skin:

The sebaceous glands in the skin normally produce sebum (oil) under the control of the male hormone testosterone, which is produced by both men and women.

Sebum contributes to the normal protective barrier of the skin (otherwise known as the acid mantle).

In people with acne, however, there’s excessive production of sebum by the sebaceous glands. It is interesting to note that sebum is linked to humans' odour profile and that its smell can be detected by certain canines. It is also believed that this profile might have played a role in primitive man's communication with his peers.

Different Types Of Acne

Blackheads:

In acne, the top layer of the skin becomes stickier, blocking the pores and forming open comedones. These are usually flat and dark in colour.

Whiteheads:

These are closed comedones that are generally pale creamy or white and slightly raised.

These are small, red, tender, raised bumps that occur when the pores in the skin get blocked, causing bacterial overgrowth.

Pustules (pimples):

These are raised red bumps with a creamy white or yellow head that contains pus. Many people are tempted to squeeze them to release the pus.

Deeper cysts and nodules:

These are often tender, abnormal, closed, sac-like structures that contain pus and blood. In more severe cases of acne, the bacterial infection may go deep into the skin, causing deep cysts and nodules that can lead to permanent scarring.

Diagnosing Acne

Self-Diagnose

Most people can easily self-diagnose mild acne, which can be treated at home using over-the-counter products.

Visual Inspection By Doctor

Diagnose acne by looking at your skin. Examining your face, chest or back for the types of spot, such as blackheads or sore, red nodules.

How Severe Is Your Acne ?

The severity of acne is often categorised as:

Mild Acne

Mostly whiteheads and blackheads, with a few papules and pustules.

Moderate Acne

More widespread whiteheads and blackheads, with many papules and pustules.

Severe Acne

Lots of large, painful papules, pustules, nodules or cysts; you might also have some scarring.

Treatment for acne depends on how severe it is. It can take several months of treatment before acne symptoms improve.

If you just have a few blackheads, whiteheads and spots, a pharmacist should be able to advise you on how to treat them successfully with over-the-counter gels or creams (topical treatments) that contain benzoyl peroxide.

Treatments from your GP: See your GP if your acne is moderate or severe, or over-the-counter medcine hasn't worked, as you probably need prescription medication.

Prescription medications that can be used to treat acne include:

Topical Retinoids
Topical Antibiotics
Azelaic Acid
Antibiotic Tablets
In women, the combined oral contraceptive pill
Isotretinoin Tablets

If you have severe acne, your GP can refer you to an expert in treating skin conditions (dermatologist).

For example, if you have:

A large number of papules and pustules on your chest and back, as well as your face
Painful nodules
Scarring, or are at risk of scarring

A combination of antibiotic tablets and topical treatments is usually the first treatment option for severe acne.

If this doesn't work, a medication called isotretinoin may be prescribed.

Hormonal therapies or the combined oral contraceptive pill can also be effective in women who have acne.

But the progestogen-only pill or contraceptive implant can sometimes make acne worse.

Many of these treatments can take 2 to 3 months before they start to work.

It's important to be patient and persist with a recommended treatment, even if there's no immediate effect.

How Is Acne Prevented ?

Keep Your Face Clean

Use Gentle Shampoo & Conditioner

Use Anti Acne Products

Exersize & Relax

Eat Healthy

Keep Hands Away From Your Face

Use Aloe Vera

Use Makeup Sparingly

Apply Honey

Diet Recommendations For People With Acne

Food can’t cure or even treat Acne, but eating better might reduce your symptoms. These five lifestyle changes may help ease symptoms of Acne and reduce flare-ups:

Lose weight

If you’re overweight, losing weight may reduce the condition’s severity. It may also make treatments more effective. It’s unclear how weight interacts with acne, so even if your symptoms remain unchanged, losing weight is still good for your overall health.

Eat a heart-healthy diet

Reduce your intake of saturated fats. These are found in animal products like meats and dairy. Increase your intake of lean proteins that contain omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, sardines, and shrimp. Plant sources of omega-3s include walnuts, flax seeds, and soybeans.

Consider taking vitamins

Some doctors prefer a vitamin-rich diet to vitamins in pill form. However, even the healthiest eater may need help getting adequate nutrients. Ask your doctor if you should be taking any vitamins as a supplement to your diet & try to getting adequate nutrients

Avoid trigger foods

Acne causes inflammation. Certain foods cause inflammation, too. Avoiding those foods might improve symptoms. These foods include:red meat, refined sugar, processed foods, dairy products etc.

Drink less alcohol

Alcohol consumption can increase your risks of a flare-up. Cut back or quit entirely. If you have a problem with your alcohol use, your doctor can help you form a treatment plan.

Foods that may reduce inflammation include:

fatty fish, such as salmon and tuna, seeds, such as flax seeds and pumpkin seeds, nuts, especially walnuts and almonds, green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and kale. So these food are must be a healthy side

Acne Triggers to Avoid

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