Development and Treatment of Acne

Acne:

Acne is a long term skin disease that occurs when hair follicles are clogged with dead skin cells and oils from the skin. It primarily affects skin areas which have a relatively high number of oil glands such as the face, upper part of the chest and back. It is often characterized by blackheads or whiteheads, oily skin, possible scarring and pimples.

Development of acne:

The Sebaceous glands produce sebum that normally travels via hair follicles in the skin surface. However, skin cells can plug the follicles, blocking the sebum coming from the sebaceous glands. When follicles become plugged with skin bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes and acnes begin to grow inside the follicles, causing inflammation. Acne progresses in the following manners-

1. Incomplete blockage of the hair follicles results in blackhead which is semi solid, black plug.
2. Complete blockage of the hair follicle results in white head which is semi solid, white plug. Normally infection and irritation causes the formation of whiteheads.
3. Eventually, the plugged follicle bursts, spilling oil, skin cells and bacteria onto the skin surface. In turn, the skin becomes irritated and pimples or lesions begin to develop. The basic acne location is called a comdeo.

Comdeo: Collection of dead cells in an obstructed sebaceous duct.

Treatment of Acne:

Generally specific treatment for acne will be determined by physician, which should be based on the following factors-

1. Patient age, Overall health and medical history
2. Severity or extent of the acne
3. Patient’s tolerance for specific medications or procedures or therapies.
4. Expectations for the course of the condition
5. Patients opinion or preferences