What is Acne?

Acne, popularly known as “acne”, is one of the most common skin problems. It is known that 85 out of every 100 adults experience acne problems at some point in their lives. Fifteen percent of those who experience this issue encounter more advanced stages where treatment becomes challenging.

Acne is a disease of the sebaceous glands in the skin. Normally, the oil secreted by these glands must come to the surface of the skin and be removed. However, during adolescence, the sebaceous glands produce more oil, leading to the blockage of pores due to a dense mass of oil that prevents the passage of this oil to the skin surface. The main cause of acne is this blockage.

All acne starts with a simple infection, but it progresses differently in different individuals. Treatment types vary depending on the different types of acne.

Acne Types

1. Non-Inflamed Acne
Closed comedones or whiteheads: If blocked pores remain under the skin, the infection is referred to as closed comedones or whitehead infection. These are typically seen on the surface of the skin as small white swellings.

Open comedones or blackheads: If the blockage has widened and caused swelling by pressing against the skin surface, it is called an open comedo or blackhead infection. The dark blockage occurs not due to dirt but because the skin produces dark pigment (melanin) in response.

2. Inflammatory Acne
Papule: A papule refers to a small, firm, pink swelling on the skin’s surface, typically characterized by soft inflammation. These are sensitive to touch and are generally seen as a transition between non-inflamed and inflamed infections.

Pustule: Like papules, pustules are small, round formations. Unlike papules, pustules clearly show inflammation and contain pus. They are primarily red with a central yellowish or whitish color. Pustules generally do not contain a large amount of bacteria. Inflammation is typically caused by chemical irritation from free fatty acids.

3. Nodule or Cyst: Nodules are large and often very painful inflammatory formations filled with pus deep within the skin. Nodules develop when the contents of a comedo spread into the surrounding skin tissue, triggering the local immune system to produce pus. In severe cases of acne formation, if nodules harden and develop into deep cysts, they can persist for weeks or months. Both nodules and cysts typically create deep wounds.

4. Acne Conglobata: Acne conglobata is a rare but severe form of acne that primarily develops on the buttocks. It manifests as severe bacterial infection in addition to pustules and nodules.

Acne Treatment

The methods and preparations used in acne treatment vary depending on the type of acne. Individuals experiencing acne issues should seek the advice of a specialist and continue treatment under expert supervision.

In acne treatment, commonly used methods include soaps or lotions, acne drying gels, antibiotics, and skin creams containing Vitamin A.

Points to be considered

Seeing a specialist is essential in acne treatment, but there are a few simple measures we can take on our own to support our battle against acne.

One of the simple measures we can take to achieve cleaner skin is washing our face twice a day with a gentle soap stored in a hygienic environment.

Our hands come into contact with bacteria and germs the most. Frequent handwashing and keeping them away from our face as much as possible can be beneficial in preventing acne development.

Avoiding squeezing, picking, scratching, and rubbing acne lesions is beneficial because these actions can lead to unwanted scars and marks in the acne-affected area.

Shampooing our hair at least twice a week and ensuring that our hair does not touch our face can help us in the fight against acne.

Another effective method is to avoid food items that we believe contribute to acne formation on our skin.

In addition to all of these, being cautious against sunburn, avoiding stress, engaging in regular exercise, and being knowledgeable and conscious about the medications we use will also help us achieve clear and acne-free skin.