13/12/2022
♦️ Acne ♦️
▪️Acne is caused when tiny holes in the skin, known as hair follicles, become blocked.
▪️In acne, the glands begin to produce too much sebum. The excess sebum mixes with dead skin cells and both substances form a plug in the follicle.
▪️Normally harmless bacteria that live on the skin can then contaminate and infect the plugged follicles, causing papules, pustules, nodules or cysts
💥 Teenage acne
Teenage acne is thought to be triggered by increased levels of a hormone called testosterone, which occurs during puberty.
💥Acne in families
Acne can run in families. If your parents had acne, it's likely that you'll also develop it.
💥 Other causes
▪️ Periods
▪️ Pregnancy
▪️ Poly cystic o***y syndrome
▪️ Certain medications: such as steroid medications, lithium & some anti-epileptic drugs
▪️ Regularly wearing items that place pressure on an affected area of skin, such as a headband or backpack
▪️ Smoking
💢 4 grades can be used to measure the severity of acne:
1️⃣ Grade 1 (mild) – acne is mostly confined to whiteheads and blackheads, with just a few papules and pustules
2️⃣ Grade 2 (moderate) – there are multiple papules and pustules, which are mostly confined to the face
3️⃣ Grade 3 (moderately severe) – there's a large number of papules and pustules, as well as the occasional inflamed nodule, and the back and chest are also affected by acne
4️⃣ Grade 4 (severe) – there's a large number of large, painful pustules and nodules
💢 Treatment options
📢 If you just have a few blackheads, whiteheads and spots, you should be able to treat them successfully with over-the-counter gels or creams (topical treatments) that contain benzoyl peroxide.
💥 Medications that can be used to treat acne include:
▪️ Topical retinoids
▪️ Topical antibiotics
▪️ Azelaic acid
▪️ Antibiotic tablets
▪️ Isotretinoin tablets
📢 (These medications may cause serious complications, so avoid self medication and should only be used after the prescription of pharmacist or general physician)
💥 Non-pharmaceutical treatments
These include:
▪️ Comedone extractor – a small pen-shaped instrument that can be used to clean out blackheads and whiteheads
▪️ Chemical peels – where a chemical solution is applied to the face, causing the skin to peel off and new skin to replace it
▪️ Photodynamic therapy – where light is applied to the skin in an attempt to improve symptoms of acne