Acne is a common problem among young people, be it man or woman. But the problem is not age specific even though young people are more prone to it. Acne can occur in people of various ages. Acne generally occurs around the face and you cannot conceal it unless you wear a veil. The medical term for acne is acne vulgaris. Other than the face the common breeding ground for acne is the neck, the chest and back. There are different types of acne like blackheads, whiteheads, nodules, cysts, etc. Some of them are milder while some are a bit stubborn. Mild forms of acne can be treated easily with general over-the-counter medicines, while severe and stubborn forms of acne requires more advanced treatment under a dermatologist supervision.
Let’s discuss the different types of acne and their fixes:
A. Comedones
A comedo (singular of comedones) is a basic acne lesion. It occurs when a hair follicle becomes clogged with oil and the pores get blocked by the dead skin cells. These Comedones can develop into little bumps which are categorized into whiteheads, blackheads and papules. Some skin or beauty products or toiletries may trigger comedones, these products are called ‘comedogenic’ products. If you suffer from comedones or you want to make sure you avoid them, buy and use ‘noncomedogenic’ skin and makeup products. They are less likely to clog pores and cause acne.
There are three types of comedones like we mentioned earlier, whiteheads, blackheads and papules.
1. Whiteheads
Whiteheads are a type of closed pore comedones. These comedones stay closed inside the surface of the outer skin. Whiteheads are a very common skin problem among people of various age groups and it’s not gender specific either. They are generally painless too. Whiteheads occur when oil and dead skin cells prevent a blocked hair follicle or pore from opening. Whiteheads come and go easily. They can be treated with general over the counter medications (skin creams and pills) which are used to treat blackheads as well.
2. Blackheads
Another very common skin problem in people from across the globe, people of all ages and gender suffer from this problem more or less at some point of time. Blackheads are just the opposite in formation to whiteheads. Blackheads occur when the hair follicles or pores of the skin are open. The excess oil present in the skin and dead skin cells together form blackheads. People tend to think it’s dirt under the outer surface of the skin that makes them look black, it is not so. It’s actually the oil present in your skin which reacts with air and causes the black color. Blackheads are easily treated with over-the-counter medicines and the same medicines which work for whiteheads, work for blackheads just as good.
3. Papules
Papules are the least popular among comedones but still quite common in many people. Papules are the type of comedones which are caused by inflammation of the skin. The inflammations form small red or whitish bumps on the skin. These bumps are quite sensitive and irritable. Picking, scratching, rubbing or squeezing can make the condition worse and may even lead to scarring or marks. Shaving over papules will cause a very painful inflammation and may increase the numbers. The number of papules sometimes indicate the severeness of acne.
B. Inflamed pimples and bumps
This type of acne is generally painful and must be consulted with a dermatologist. There are three types of acne; the Pustules, Nodules and Cysts.
1. Pustules
Pustules are a kind of inflamed pimples. They are somewhat like whiteheads with a red ring around the bump, and the bump is generally filled with white or yellow pus. The yellow pus sometimes makes the bumps look yellowish. Popping, picking or squeezing pustules may lead to scars or dark spots on the skin.
2. Nodules
Nodules are large, inflamed bumps which are not sensitive to touch but feel firm. They are developed deep within the inner surfaces of the skin and are often painful. Nodules cannot be popped easily by picking or squeezing. They should be treated by a dermatologist. Over-the-counter treatments may or may not work depending on the strength of the nodule. Prescription drugs might be required.
3. Cysts
Cysts maybe called nodules which are filled with pus. Cysts are large in appearance, just like nodules and are pus-filled lesions, they bear much resemblance to boils. Not unlike nodules, cysts can be very painful and the person should opt for a dermatologist right away. Over-the-counter medicines are not good enough in treatment of cysts and the condition might get worse. Nodules and cysts are considered more severe forms of acne.
C. Different levels of acne
There are different levels under which acne can be specified. From mild acne to severe nodulocystic acne. The treatment should be according to the severeness of acne.
1. Mild acne
Mild acne are generally those types of acne which are painless and can be treated with over-the-counter topical medicines. If you have less than 20 whiteheads or blackheads or fewer than 15 inflamed bumps or less than a total of 30 lesions across face, neck and chest, then it is considered as mild acne. It may take about four to eight weeks to notice a significant or visible improvement.
2. Moderate acne
If you have over 20-100 whiteheads or blackheads or about 15-50 inflamed bumps or 30-150 total lesions, it is considered as moderate acne. Prescription drugs are recommended by dermatologists for treatment of moderate acne. It generally takes 3-4 months to notice visible improvement, takes about 6 months to clear out completely.
3. Nodulocystic acne
This is a severe form of acne. People suffering from nodulocystic acne have multiple inflamed cysts and nodules. The cysts turn may turn deep red and pop out by themselves causing pus to spread all over the skin. It generally leaves scars if not treated right in time. In some very severe cases, the dermatologist may prescribe corticosteroid injections to be injected directly into the nodules and cysts to reduce the pain, size of the cysts and inflammation.
4. Acne conglobata
This is the most severe form of acne. Acne Conglobata causes many inflamed nodules that are interconnected with each other underneath the outer surface of the skin. It can spread throughout the neck, chest, back, arms, and hips and cause scarring. Men are more prone to Acne Conglobata and it is sometimes caused by steroid usage or high testosterone level due to hormone injections or else. Dermatologist consultation is a must.
5. Acne mechanica
Acne mechanica is caused by heat, friction and erosion of the skin. They appear as heat rash and are generally caused by wearing sports gear which cause sweat and provide less air supply e,g helmets, baseball caps etc. It is also termed as ‘sports-induced acne’ because athletes are more prone to this when compared to others. Wearing an absorbent cloth or material under sports equipment can be a good preventive measure.
Medication
Two types of medications are given for the treatment of acne:
1. Topical medications
Topical medication refers to skin creams or gels or lotions, etc. Over-the-counter topical medicines are generally given to treat mild acne. They are composed of ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur, resorcinol, etc. Prescription drugs like antimicrobial or retinoid creams can be used to treat mild to moderate acne.
2. Systematic therapy
Systemic therapy refers to oral medications like pills and tablets etc. Antibiotics like tetracycline, doxycycline, erythromycin are some examples. They are prescribed for the treatment of moderate to severe acne. Oral contraceptives can reduce acne in some women. Isotretinoin is used only in very severe cases of cystic acne, where other treatments fail to work.