Acne creates red bumps and irritated skin that can seriously damage your complexion. Additionally, acne is usually persistent and continues to affect your skin, usually on your face and upper body. Fortunately, there are several treatments that can help to heal and prevent acne from further damaging your skin.
Causes
Each hair follicle on your body is connected to a sebaceous gland. The sebaceous gland secretes an oily substance known as sebum, which is used to lubricate your hair and skin. If your body produces an excessive amount of sebum and dead skin cells, it can form a plug in the hair follicle. These blockages cause acne. When the blocked hair follicle becomes infected, it creates the raised red spots known as pimples that are most often associated with acne.
Forms of Acne
Acne can take various forms, including comedones, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts. Comedones, also known as whiteheads or blackheads, are slightly raised bumps on the skin that occur when hair follicles get clogged with oil. Papules are small raised red bumps caused by inflammation or infection in the hair follicles. Pustules are tender red bumps that have white pus at their tips. Nodules are created when secretions accumulate within hair follicles. This results in large, painful bumps beneath the skin. Cysts are lumps beneath the surface of the skin filled with pus. Cysts can be painful and can also cause scaring.
Symptoms
Because acne is caused by oil, acne usually appears on parts of the body with the largest number of oil glands. These areas include your face, neck, chest, back and shoulders. Acne causes redness and skin irritation. It can also result in scarring of the skin.
Risk Factors
Hormonal changes can increase acne. This puts teenagers, pregnant women, and those on certain medications at greater risk. Other factors that can contribute to acne include exposing the skin to oily or greasy substances, the use of certain cosmetics, friction or pressure on the skin, and genetics.
Treatment
The goal of acne treatment is to reduce oil production, speed skin cell turnover, fight bacterial infection and reduce inflammation. Topical treatments are the most common form of acne treatment. These lotions work by killing bacteria and promoting skin cell turnover. Over-the-counter treatments can be helpful for mild acne. If these do not work, your doctor can prescribe a stronger topical lotion. Other treatments include antibiotics, laser therapy and cosmetic procedures such as chemical peels and microdermabrasion. Dermabrasion and laser treatment can also be used to help to fix any scarring caused by acne.
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