Acne (Pimples) & Acne Scars

Overview

Skin is considered as the largest organ of the human body. The muscles, bones and the organs are protected by this outer covering. It is this delicate layer that holds everything together so as to give the human body the required shape. The significance of skin, therefore, needs no further explanation. Being the part that is in contact with the outer atmosphere, the skin is susceptible to many disorders. Acne is one of the disorders that affect the skin.
Acne is medically referred to as Acne Vulgaris. This disorder is commonly referred to as pimples. The condition is commonly seen in body portions like neck, face, back, shoulders and neck.

Signs & symptoms

Common causes for wrinkles are:Acne is characterized by several signs & symptoms. The most common symptom is the formation of lesions. These lesions can be either of inflammatory or non-inflammatory in nature. The most frequently seen non-inflammatory lesion is 'comedone'. They occur either as whiteheads or blackheads. Blackheads are comedones that are open to the skin surface. They appear darker due to the 'plug of the hair follicles'. When comedones are closed, they appear as lumps that are skin-coloured. These are called whiteheads.

The following are the inflammatory lesions common in acne:

  • Pustules: Usually referred to as pimples, they are tender & red bumps. These are characterized by the deposit of white pus on their tip.
  • Papules: They may be red & tender. This can indicate infection or inflammation in the hair follicles.
  • Cysts: They are lumps that are usually filled with pus. They can be painful at times
  • Nodules: These are painful bumps in the underlying skin surfaces.
    • Causes

    There are 4 main factors that results in acne formation are:

  • Excessive oil (sebum) production in the concerned area.
  • Patchy cell differentiation
  • Hormonal influences.
  • Bacterial proliferation.

    • The treatment chosen for you would depend on the amount of age related changes on your skin and the kind of results you expect. Application creams are useful in maintaining the results that you achieve after doing the procedures. All these treatments are extremely effective and very safe in expert hands. They can help you to reverse your age clock and stay young forever.

    Risk factors

    The main risk factors for acne formation are as follows:

  • Genetic predisposition
  • Oily skin type
  • Improper skin care routine
  • Hormonal disturbances
  • Stress

    • The diagnosis of acne is relatively simple since the symptoms are very much visible. If acne are not treated in time these can lead to scarring of the affected area. There are many types of acne scars like box scars and ice pick scars.

    Treatments

    Acne can be treated in many ways. The treatment method depends upon various factors like patient's medical history, extend of the disease etc. The major types of treatments for acne scars are as follows:

  • Medical treatment: A vast variety of medicines are available for application and oral intake depending on the grade of acne. The commonly used medicines include retinoids, benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics. Oral isotretinoin is a wonder drug for severe acne but this can be taken only under doctor supervision.
  • Chemical peels: These are fruit acids which cause mild tingling sensation when applied on skin. These help in oil control, decreasing the number of acne and improving the skin texture and tone. These can be repeated fortnightly.
  • Soft tissue fillers: The commonly used fillers these days are the hyaluronic acid fillers. These are the same substance as the eye lens which is used after a cataract surgery. Extremely safe and have long lasting effects for treatment of scars.
  • Microdermabrasion: It is the process by which dead skin and scars can be removed in a controlled manner. It leaves your skin feeling soft and oil free.
  • Intense Pulse Light: IPL (Intense Pulsed light) is a light system which works very affectively on inflamed acne. It also helps to decrease the acne scars.
  • Dermaroller / microneedling: This is a very effective treatment for deep acne scars with little or no downtime.
  • Fractional CO2 laser: This is considered to be one of the most effective treatments for all kinds of acne scars.There can be redness or mild scarring over the face for 2-4 days after the procedure.