The medical name, acne vulgaris, is a common ailment that everyone accumulates during the puberty period. However, quite a few adults continue to possess them due to the skin type they possess, the living conditions, and the food habits. Acne consists of whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples found at different locations such as the face, shoulders, chest, and back.
Understanding Acne
Understanding acne is important to categorize it as moderate or severe acne. The occurrence of the acne is due to the presence of dead cells that clog the hair follicle pore. The clogging decides whether it develops into a blackhead or a whitehead. A blackhead is where the comedo is open while the whitehead is the opposite.
Blackhead consists of excessive oil in the pores with plenty of dead skin cells. The hue and lighting are the reason behind its appearance as black in color but not the dirt. It is possible to cure it through over-the-counter tablets.
Whiteheads, on the other hand, are similar but have closed surface on the skin. The occurrence happens because dead skin cells and oil are preventing the hair follicle to open up. The same medicines used for treating blackheads are also helpful in treating whiteheads.
What is Considered as a Severe Acne?
Severe acne is the most severe type of acne vulgaris. An individual falls into the category of severe acne if they have multiple inflamed pustules, papules, comedones, nodules and cysts. The affected skin turns red or purple depending on the severity of the condition. A major drawback of this severe acne is that it leaves behind a scar as a mark of its occurrence. Nonetheless, with proper treatment from a professional dermatologist will aid in minimizing the scars. In certain cases, the doctor has the freedom to inject a corticosteroid directly into a cyst or nodule directly to reduce pain and size.
What are the Causes of Severe Acne?
The factors that trigger severe acne change from one individual to another. However, the common point is an increase in the androgen level. Androgen is a hormone, which begins to escalate during puberty. For females, the same converts into estrogens.
A rise the hormone causes excessive secretion of oil under the skin, which is the sebum in medical terms. The secretion increase breaks the walls of the pores, causing the bacteria to grow at a faster rate. Other causes of severe acne are:
- Certain types of medications
- Cosmetics, tight clothing, lotions
- Genes
- Changes in hormones during adolescent age, hormone therapy, pregnancy
- Severe emotional stress
- Menstruation.
With a clear picture about acne, the variants, and its categories, it is now possible to find the right treatment to prevent the spread of severe acne to other parts. Approach a dermatologist as soon as you notice the signs of symptoms of acne to descent the growth rate throughout the puberty period. Make it unavoidable and follow the guidelines provided by the physician along with the medication to cure severe acne. They will help in control the excess development of oil from the oil glands and prevent turning the natural occurrence of acne into a severe condition.
- Mayo Clinic. (2021). Acne. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acne/symptoms-causes/syc-20368047
- American Academy of Dermatology Association. (n.d.). Acne. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne-and-rosacea/acne
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. (2020). Acne. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/acne
- Zaenglein, A. L., Pathy, A. L., Schlosser, B. J., Alikhan, A., Baldwin, H. E., Berson, D. S., … & Bhushan, R. (2016). Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 74(5), 945-973.
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