Darrick Robles Almost everyone suffers from pimples or blackheads at some point in their lives. Acne is one of the most common skin diseases worldwide. Especially during puberty, hormonal changes can lead to impure skin and blackheads. The disease usually heals on its own by the time it reaches adulthood. If the disease is perceived as a heavy burden, treatment by a dermatologist should be sought. Various drugs are used in the treatment, which are applied locally to the skin. In addition, there are some tips and tricks for skin care for acne sufferers.
Definition of Acne
Acne is known in technical terms as acne vulgaris and describes an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands, which is accompanied by the formation of blackheads (comedones) as well as pustules, nodules and papules. Sebum is a fatty substance that keeps hair and skin soft. Blackheads (comedones) are caused by clogged sebaceous glands, which lead to the formation of small pimples.
causes
The exact cause and development of acne is still unclear. Nevertheless, some risk factors are known that support the development of pimples.
- Familial risk: Studies show that there is a hereditary component that increases the risk of acne.
- Seborrhoea: Increased sebum production in the skin during puberty due to the influence of male hormones (androgens)
- Hyperkeratosis: proliferation of corneal cells leading to blockage of the sebum follicles
- Propionibacteria: Bacterial colonization of the skin with Propionibacteria increases the risk of inflammatory acne.
- Medications: Taking certain medications can cause acne. These include, for example, cortisone, some psychotropic drugs and some antibiotics.
How is acne formed?
Various factors lead to the formation of blackheads. During puberty, there is an increased release of male hormones (androgens). Androgens promote sebum production in the skin. Excessive sebum production (seborrhea) can clog the sebum glands . Increased keratinization of the skin (hyperkeratosis) also closes the sebaceous glands and leads to the formation of blackheads. The blackhead can become inflamed over time and is then referred to as an acne pimple.
In addition to puberty, there are other hormonal fluctuations that can lead to acne. Women suffer more from the symptoms in the last week before the menstrual period begins, which is related to the drop in the female hormone estrogen. The symptoms can also occur during pregnancy, during the menopause or after stopping the birth control pill. Incidentally, poor personal hygiene is not a trigger for acne.
symptoms
Acne occurs particularly where increased sebum is produced. This happens primarily on the face, chest and back. However, it is also possible to have pimples on your neck, chin or other parts of your body.
Symptoms include closed and open blackheads. Closed blackheads get a yellowish appearance due to the accumulation of sebum. A whitish to yellow liquid can be emptied when the relevant area is pressed. Open blackheads, on the other hand, show a blackish dot in the middle. This is caused by a chemical reaction between melanin and the oxygen in the air.
In the course of this it comes to inflammatory acne with papules (nodular thickening of the skin), pustules (pus-filled vesicles) as well as nodules and cysts . These are caused by hardened inflammatory pores.
When the pimples regress, acne scars may remain.
forms of acne
- Light acne occurs with few and small blackheads, mainly on the face.
- With moderately severe acne , significantly more acne pimples can be seen. In addition, papules (nodular thickening of the skin) and pustules (pus-filled vesicles) occur.
- Severe acne describes the most severe form of the skin disease. In addition to papules and pustules, inflammatory nodules and abscesses (collections of pus) also appear. Severe acne often leaves scars.
Incidentally , Mallorca acne has little to do with acne. Rather, it is a special form of polymorphic light eruption (sun allergy).
diagnosis of acne
In the case of severe acne, it is worth consulting a dermatologist. The specialist in skin diseases can work with you to find the right therapy. In order to make the correct diagnosis, the therapist will first ask you a few questions about your symptoms. In this so-called anamnesis interview, the doctor can correctly assess your symptoms and rule out various reasons such as taking medication as the cause. He will then look at acne with the naked eye. Since it is a clinical diagnosis, no further examinations are usually necessary.
risk of infection
Acne is not a contagious disease. Even with close physical contact, infection cannot occur.
duration of acne
Since acne is particularly triggered by an increased release of hormones during puberty, the disease usually disappears by adulthood. Only in isolated cases does acne persist until the age of 40. It should be noted that pimples tend to heal with scars. Pimple marks can remain, which appear as atrophic or hypertrophic scars. A small dimple forms in atrophic scars because too little connective tissue is formed . Slightly raised hypertrophic scars form when too much connective tissue is formed during healing.
If the inflamed pimples are squeezed out too often, increased scarring can occur.
You can do this yourself against acne
- Cleanse your skin twice a day with a cleansing product that is pH balanced (5.5). Avoid excessive rubbing and washing.
- Care for your skin with lotions (oil-in-water emulsions) or moisturizing gels ( hydrogels ). Oily skin care products should be avoided as they clog pores.
- It is advisable to use a peeling with fruit acid (glycolic acid) or salicylic acid once a week .
- Don’t remove pimples. Squeezing the pimple allows the inflammatory fluid to penetrate deeper into the skin. There is also an increased risk of leaving stronger scars when you express them. It is better to have the blemishes removed by specialists in medical cosmetic studios or in a dermatologist’s practice using manual acne therapy .
- quit smoking Acne inversa, in particular, is caused by smoking.
- Try to avoid stress or learn coping strategies. Regular physical activity or relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation can help.
- A balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle also have a beneficial effect on the skin. Avoid sugary and greasy food as well as finished products and try to eat lots of vegetables, fruit, whole grain products and fish.
- Conspicuous acne scars can be corrected by surgery if necessary.
therapy for acne
Depending on the severity and level of suffering of those affected, various treatment approaches are available. The success of the therapy can sometimes take months or years to come, which is why the treatment requires a lot of patience.
In the case of minor problems, products that act locally , i.e. on the affected skin areas, should first be used. Drugs such as retinoids, azelaic acid and benzoyl peroxide are available for this purpose. An antibiotic can also be applied locally. If the symptoms are more severe, these medicines can be combined with one another if necessary. In very severe cases, a systemic antibiotic in tablet form can be taken as a supplement.
Retinoids should not be used in pregnant women. Therefore, a possible pregnancy must be ruled out by means of a pregnancy test before starting therapy.
There is also the possibility for women to take the pill as an estrogen-gestagen combination preparation against the pimples. This is offered as an additional therapy option for moderate to severe acne.
Some studies indicate that the use of blue light in addition to drug therapy can lead to better therapeutic success.
acne in newborns
If a newborn develops numerous small reddish pimples on the head, neck and face immediately after birth, this is referred to as neonatal acne ( acne neonatorum ). The disease is usually harmless and requires no treatment.
Acne in Babies
Slightly older infants aged three to six months can also suffer from acne. This acne infantum is triggered by an increased level of the male hormone androgen. This can be caused on the one hand by slow growth of the diencephalon, on the other hand by a hormone-producing tumour. In this case, the cause should be investigated and the children should definitely be presented to a doctor.
What is acne inversa?
In the context of acne inversa, the skin manifestations appear in the armpit and groin area. The pimples form inflammatory nodules and abscesses and heal with scarring. Obesity , cigarette smoking and a family risk are considered risk factors for the disease . Antibiotics are used as treatment, as is hormonal therapy in women. In more severe cases, surgery can help.
When to seek help for acne
Acne can be very distressing for some patients and impair their quality of life. A doctor can help treat both the skin irritation and the psychological problems associated with the disease. Alternatively, there is help from psychosocial counseling centers and self-help groups where you can exchange ideas with other people affected.
How can Med-Healths help?
Do you suffer from pimples or blemished skin and want to know what best helps your skin with acne? In an individual video call, one of our doctors can advise you on the disease and how to proceed. In addition, it is possible to receive a referral to a specialist and to receive a suitable prescription via the app.
