Acne

Acne is a skin disorder that develops, when your hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells. The face, upper half of the chest, and back are among the skin areas with the greatest number of oil glands affected.

Risk factors of acne

Risk factors for acne include:

• Family history.
• Age. 
• Hormonal changes
• Cigarette smoking
• Poor sleep
• Stress
• Greasy or oily substances. 
• Friction or pressure on your skin

What causes acne?

Four main factors cause acne:

• Excess oil (sebum) production
• Hair follicles clogged by oil and dead skin cells
• Bacteria
• Inflammation

The areas of skin with the greatest oil glands (sebaceous glands), such as the face, forehead, chest, upper back, and shoulders, are where acne most frequently develops. Associated with oil glands are hair follicles.

A whitehead could develop if the follicular wall swells. In addition, a blackhead might develop if the plug is exposed to the surface. In certain cases, blackheads resemble pore-clogging dirt. It turns brown when exposed to air because the pore is actually clogged with germs and oil.

Certain things may trigger or worsen acne:

• Hormonal changes. Androgens are hormones that increase in boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Hormone changes during midlife, particularly in women, can lead to breakouts too.
• Certain medications. Examples include drugs containing corticosteroids, testosterone or lithium.
• Diet. Studies indicate that consuming certain foods — including carbohydrate-rich foods, such as bread, bagels and chips — may worsen acne. Further study is needed to examine whether people with acne would benefit from following specific dietary restrictions.
• Stress. Stress doesn’t cause acne, but if you have acne already, stress may make it worse.

What are the symptoms of acne?

Acne commonly appears on the face and shoulders. It may also occur on the trunk, arms, legs, and buttocks. Skin changes include:

• Crusting of skin bumps
• Cysts
• Scarring of the skin
• Whiteheads
• Blackheads

• Papules (small red bumps)
• Pustules (small red bumps containing white or yellow pus)
• Redness around the skin eruptions

Treatment of acne

Treatment for bacterial infections or lowering oil production are two ways that acne drugs reduce inflammation and acne. 

Usually, it takes four to eight weeks before prescription acne medications start to work. 

Your acne might not go away completely for several months or even years. Commonly used treatments include azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid, which are administered directly to the afflicted skin. Antibiotics and retinoids are available in formulations that are applied to the skin and taken by mouth for the treatment of acne. However, resistance to antibiotics may develop as a result of antibiotic therapy

Your dermatologist may also advise you on medical methods to treat severe acne and avoid scarring. These treatments function by eliminating damaged skin and lowering oil production.

• Cortisone injections: These injections may lessen inflammation and hasten the healing process. Typically, cortisone is used in combination with other acne treatments, especially when there are significant cysts present.
• Drainage and extraction. Whiteheads, blackheads, or cysts that haven’t gone away after applying topical treatments may be gently removed by your doctor using specialized instruments. This method gives your skin a temporary aesthetic boost, but there is a chance that scarring could result.
• Photodynamic therapy (PDT): combines medication and a specific light or laser to minimize oil production and bacteria
• Chemical peel: This method involves applying a chemical solution, such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or retinoic acid, repeatedly. This is a minor acne treatment. It may improve the appearance of the skin, but the effect is temporary, and repeat treatments are usually required.