Also known as Cystic Acne, Teenage Acne, Adult Acne, Acne Rosacea, Pimples, Cysts, Zits, Whiteheads, Red Face, Blackheads, Nodules, Scars
Condition Overview
Acne is a skin condition characterized by plugged pores, red pimples, nodules and cysts which can result in scarring.
There are many types of acne:
- Cystic Acne is deep “pus-filled” lumps on the skin.
- Teenage Acne is formed by testosterone, a hormone present in males and females, which stimulates the sebaceous glands of the skin to enlarge, produce oil, and plug the pores causing whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples.
- Adult Acne may be related to hormones, childbirth, or menopause.
- Acne Rosacea is acne associated with Rosacea.
Causes:
Acne is caused by different factors:
- Genetics
- Hormones
- Mechanical or frictional factors such as a football player’s helmet strap
- Occlusive oils that lead to plugged pores
Symptoms of Acne
Red, painful pustules, pimples, or nodules and excessive whiteheads or blackheads.
Treatments
- Topical Medications: Creams, gels or lotions such as Benzoyl Peroxide, Retinoids (Retin-A®, Differin) Fineacea, Clindamycin, and accommodation products such as Duac gel or Benziclin gel
- Oral Antibiotics: Tetracycline, Doxycycline, Minocycline, Clindamycin, Sulfa, Zithromycin
- Oral Vitamin-A: Isotretinoin (formerly Accutane)
- Hormonal Treatment: Birth control pills such as Yasmin® or Yaz®, Orthotricycline or Orthotricycline Lo
- Oral Water Pill: Spironolactone
- Laser Treatment: Smoothbeam® Laser, Starlux® Fractional Laser to treat scarring
- Photodynamic Therapy: Levulan plus Laser light
- Acne Facial: A combination of a light glycolic peel and the extraction of blackheads and/or whiteheads from plugged pores
Before and After
Next, read about acne scarring.