Acne

About Acne

Also known as acne vulgaris or pimple, acne is a common skin infection which usually occurs when one hits puberty. It is characterised by a red swelling, the size of a boil on the face, neck or back. It is a result of the increase in the production of the hormone testosterone in both males and females. Excess secretion of sebum (oily liquid which prevents the skin from drying) also leads to the formation of acne. Other factors like dirt, oil, clogged pores, and wrong diet are also responsible for pimples. Certain medications that contain corticosteroids, androgens or lithium can also produce acne. This mega guide contains all you need to know about acne.

When there is an excess secretion of sebum (an oily liquid that keeps the skin from drying), it can result in the formation of acne or pimples. The most common areas of acne appearance are the face, near the chest and the back as they have more sebaceous follicles (which are responsible for secreting sebum). The dirt, oil and dead skin cells clog the skin pores which give rise to acne.

Blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, zits, etc are all different grades of acne depending on the severity of the problem. Usually, when the bumps are tender and red, they are called pimples or zits and when they are small, congested pores they are known as comedones. The pus-filled, yellowish acne is pustules.

Home remedies for acne-free skin: Cinnamon and honey, Turmeric, Lemon juice. The latest advancements in treating acne are LED, light therapy, laser tech and skin peels.

There is a wide range of anti-acne medication available ranging from face wash, acne cream, acne mask, soaps, acne mark removal creams, etc. The ingredients in these products are mainly benzoxyl peroxide, salicylic acid and clindamycin. Though results are visible results within a week or two, the marks take 4-6 weeks to lighten completely. Apart from these, herbal preparation containing neem, tea tree oil are also effective in treating acne.

What is acne?

Acne, acne vulgaris or pimples as they are popularly known is a common skin infection which mostly occurs in adolescence (during puberty) on the skin due to increase in the production of the hormone testosterone in both males and females.

Causes of acne

Apart from these reasons, acne can also be due to the wrong diet, hormonal changes, and certain medications which contain corticosteroids, androgens or lithium, or can even be genetic. (Read: 10 reasons your acne might be getting worse)

Types of acne

Whiteheads which are closed non-inflammatory grade I type of acne. They are also referred to as closed comedonal acne. They develop as a result of accumulation of bacteria and sebum below the skin due to a closed or narrow pore.
Blackheads which are open non-inflammatory grade I type of acne. Blackheads are also often referred to as open comedonal acne. They develop as a result of accumulation of bacteria and sebum in the follicles due to blockages. When the pore opens to the surface, sebum gradually gets exposed to air, oxidizes, hardens and turns black.
Papule which is a grade II inflammatory type of acne. It occurs when there is a break in the follicular wall. This causes bacterial contamination. White blood cells rush in and the pore becomes inflamed.
Pustule which forms several days later when white blood cells make their way to the surface of the skin in the form of pus. It is usually refer to as a zit or a pimple.
Nodule which is a severe grade III type of acne. They are large, hard bumps under the skin’s surface. Scarring is common.
Cyst is the most severe form. It is grade IV type of acne. It appears similar to a nodule, but is pus-filled. It can be painful. Scarring is common.
Acne Conglobata which is another severe form of acne vulgaris and is more common in males. It is characterized by numerous large lesions, sometimes interconnected, along with widespread blackheads. It causes severe, irrevocable damage to the skin and disfiguring scarring.

Medications to beat acne

Topical antibiotics: These include erythromycin (E-Mycin, Eryc), clindamycin (BenzaClin, Duac), sulfacetamide (Klaron) and azelaic acid (Azelex).
Retinoids: Retinoid cream or gel such as tretinoin and adapalene, are usually applied to the skin once a day. If you use a retinoid, you must avoid the sun or use a strong sunscreen because it increases your risk of getting sunburn.
Oral antibiotics: Doctors may start treatment with tetracycline (Sumycin) or one of the related doxycycline (Vibramycin, Oracea) and minocycline (Minocin). Other oral antibiotics that are useful for treating acne are cefadroxil, amoxicillin (Trimox) and the sulfa drugs.
Oral contraceptives: Some contraceptive pills like Estrostep have been shown to have modest effectiveness in treating acne.
Spironolactone (Aldactone): This drug blocks androgen (hormone) receptors. It can help some women with resistant acne. However, it can cause breast tenderness, menstrual irregularities and increased potassium levels in the bloodstream.
Cortisone injections: Doctors inject large pimples and cysts with a form of cortisone to make them flatten out fast.
Isotretinoin: Original brand name was Accutane (current generation e.g. Sotret, Claravis). It should be used for people with severe acne, mainly the cystic variety, which has been unresponsive to conventional therapies. The drug has many serious side effects and requires a number of unique controls before it is prescribed. Before taking isotretinoin, tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has a history of diabetes, asthma, liver disease, heart disease or depression. Isotretinoin must not be taken if you are pregnant because it causes severe birth defects, including malformation of the head and face, mental retardation and severe internal defects of the brain, heart, glands and nervous system. It can also cause miscarriage, premature birth or death of the foetus.

Home remedies for acne-free skin

Cinnamon and honey

Cinnamon is a common spice and flavouring agent but the essential oil it contains also has strong anti-microbial properties. The water activity of honey is very low and this means that it does not contain a lot of moisture which can promote the growth of microorganisms. Considering that pimples often arise from an infection within the pores of the skin, combining cinnamon with honey is an effective remedy.

Mix a little cinnamon powder with a little honey to make a paste; avoid adding water because it will destroy the action of honey. Dab a little of the paste on each pimple and allow to remain overnight; wash off with lukewarm water the next morning. Repeat for a few days if necessary. (Read: Home remedies and face packs to fight pimples)

Turmeric or haldi

Remember how your grandmother always insisted on sprinkling a little turmeric on your wounds saying it would help it heal? Well, medical researchers are now finding that turmeric contains ingredients that make it a powerful antimicrobial. No wonder then that women in India have always been using turmeric paste claiming it keeps their skin healthy and glowing. Although you can apply turmeric paste directly to skin, consuming it with a little warm milk is also said to be an effective remedy for flawless skin.

Mix a little turmeric powder with a little coconut oil and apply directly onto the pimples at night; next morning, wash your face with water to remove the paste.

Dry a few neem leaves in the sun and grind to a fine powder. Mix equal quantities of this powder, turmeric powder and a little rose water to form a paste. Apply this to the pimples, leave it on for around 20 minutes or so and then wash your face. You could also substitute sandalwood powder for neem powder – this remedy works equally well for acne.

Lemon juice

Lemons contain vitamin C and phytonutrients called flavonoids that have a strong antioxidant as well as antibiotic action. Free radicals generated during the metabolic reactions within the body can damage the healthy cells of the body, causing inflammation and swelling. The antioxidants in lemon restrict the action of these free radicals and this makes lemon juice an excellent remedy for pimples.

Squeeze out the juice from a freshly-cut lemon and dab a little directly on to the pimple. Leave on overnight and wash the next morning.

Mix a tablespoon of groundnut oil into an equal quantity of freshly squeezed lime juice and apply over the entire face; this provides long-term preventive action against blackheads that may later turn into pimples.

A word of caution regarding lime juice – it can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and therefore, do not venture out in the sun when you have applied it to your face. (Read: Herbal remedies to get rid of pimples)

Dos and don’ts for acne-prone skin

Eat healthy.
Maintain a regular sleep schedule.
Never pick or squeeze pimples.
Playing with or popping pimples, no matter how careful and clean you are, nearly always makes them worse.
Wash your hands before and after caring for skin lesions to reduce the chance of infection.
Identify and avoid anything that aggravates acne including oily foods, lotions and make-up.
Stress can add to your acne problem.
Relax and reduce the stress in your life through yoga and meditation.

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