Acne is a condition found in both females and males because when entering adolescence, everyone undergoes significant hormonal changes. Many people have acne that lasts until adulthood, but some may develop acne later after passing through adolescence because acne has various contributing factors.
The acne problems encountered range from mild clogging, severe inflammatory acne all over the face, to acne on the chest and back. The consequences cause those with acne to lose confidence, affecting their personality. Some are afraid to socialize, and quite a few suffer so severely that they experience “depression”.
What exactly is acne?
Acne is the inflammation of hair follicles and sebaceous glands, commonly found on the face, neck, and upper body (chest and back), where there is a dense concentration of large sebaceous glands.
Factors causing acne
Factors causing acne start from internal factors such as genetics, gender, age, hormones, and chronic diseases. There are also external factors like medication, certain creams, cosmetics, food, sunlight, temperature, and the environment.
Types of acne based on observed characteristics
We can classify acne types based on observed characteristics as follows:
- Non-inflammatory acne results from abnormal thickening of the skin around the sebaceous gland openings combined with excessive oil production, causing blockage of the sebaceous glands. At this stage, there are whiteheads (closed comedones) and blackheads (open comedones).
- Inflammatory acne is caused by bacteria called Cutibacterium acnes, leading to red inflamed pimples, pustules (pimples with pus), large inflamed acne (nodules), and red raised lumps with pus and blood-filled cavities (cystic acne).
Additionally, acne can be classified by severity into 3 stages:
- Mild acne: mostly comedones or fewer than 10 inflamed pimples/pustules.
- Moderate acne: more than 10 inflamed pimples/pustules and/or fewer than 5 large inflamed acne lesions.
- Severe acne: numerous inflamed pimples/pustules, many large inflamed acne lesions, cystic acne, or possibly sinus tracts (channels draining pus).
Treatment
Acne treatment may start with topical medications applied to the affected areas combined with oral antibiotics. For moderate and severe acne, additional treatments may include extraction/injection of acne, laser therapy, or red/blue light therapy to kill bacteria and control oil production.
The effects of acne often cause dark spots, red marks, raised scars, pitted scars, and keloid scars. Therefore, it is important not to ignore acne once it starts. Proper facial skin care is essential, which means “not picking or squeezing acne” and consulting a doctor for targeted treatment and appropriate advice tailored to each individual’s skin condition. Without proper care, acne can cause scarring that damages the skin, making later correction difficult.
Additionally, maintaining overall health through exercise, proper diet, good bowel movements, and a positive mindset is another way to care for and prevent acne, which also helps improve skin condition.
