What is Acne?

Acne is a true skin disease that results from the abnormal "plugging" of pores, most commonly occurring on the face but also involving the neck, chest, back and even the shoulders and upper arms in many people. The earliest (and mildest) acne lesions are known as "open" or "closed" comedones, the so-called "blackheads" or "whiteheads" respectively; these acne lesions can progress to the inflammatory form of acne, ranging from the less severe "pimples" (papules and pustules), to the more destructive acne cysts and acne nodules which often result in scarring. If left unattended, or excessively scrubbed or "picked at", even the milder forms of acne can result in permanent scars.

Are there different types of Acne?
It is more accurate to say that there are different degrees of severity for acne, which can make it look quite different in different people.  The mildest "type" or degree is known as comedonal acne, involving only the formation of "closed" and "open" comedones (whiteheads and blackheads).  These can range from a few scattered only on the face to dense concentrations on the face as well as truncal areas.  These acne lesions consist of pores called "sebaceous follicles" that are clogged with dead cells, lipid substances, small hairs and sometimes bacteria.  If the bacteria begin to multiply, they can set off an inflammatory acne response which leads to swelling and redness (papules) or the same lesions with dead cells forming on the surface (pus) and therefore referred to as pustules.  If the inflammation progresses beyond this stage, the swelling results in larger acne lesions going deeper into the skin; these are known as acne cysts or nodules.

Who gets acne?
Acne is reported at all ages (from infancy up to and beyond the 50's).  However, virtually 100% of adolescents will get one or more acne lesions at some time, and when these become prominent and continuous the term acne is used to indicate that a disease process is occurring, rather than isolated "pimples".

Will acne get better by itself?
In most cases, acne will clear up on its own after 5-10 years (usually between ages 18-23).
However, it is very common for acne to persist well beyond this age range, leaving in its wake significant scarring.  It is for this reason that treatment to control acne is desirable as early as possible.

What are the treatments for acne?
These range from "over-the-counter" acne products containing salicylic acid (peeling agent) and benzoyl peroxide (antiseptic), to powerful prescription drugs known as topical retinoids, combinations of topical antibiotics with benzoyl peroxide,  internal medications including antibiotics and hormone therapies (birth control pills and agents that block androgen hormone activity).  If these fail, an internal retinoid known as Accutane is given for 5-10 months and is extremely effective in controlling the most stubborn forms of acne.

Are there other products that can be used to supplement acne treatment?
There are many wonderful products that can be recommended by your dermatologist to assist in the treatment of acne.  Skin-caremd.com offers such items as Crystal Peel, and product lines from Glytone, Glyderm, Neostrata, DCL, Topix and others, which may be purchased from our online catalog, where you can simply click on "Acne" or enter "Acne" in the search window.

The information provided by Skin-CareMD is not meant to replace or substitute for a face-to-face evaluation or consultation by a dermatologist or your primary care physician.