Acne ? Types, Causes and Treatment.

Posted by patillsandip on December 27th, 2017

Acne, medically termed as Acne Vulgaris, is a common skin condition affecting teenagers, however, it is not uncommon for young adults and older people. Acne Vulgaris is a skin disease caused when hair follicles get clogged with dead skin cells and oil from the skin.

Blackhead, whitehead, pimples, papules, are all characterised as Acne Vulgaris. The part of the body mainly affected, include the face, upper chest, and back. Severe cases of acne can distort an individual’s appearance and reduce self-esteem.

Rarer Types of Acne –

Acne Conglobata

Acne Conglobata is a severe form of acne that is characterized by painful sores and irregular scars. This rarer type of acne is a painful condition, in which a group of pimples around blackheads, become engorged with foul smelling pus. These formations if rupture, join together to create larger shapes and scab.

Acne Conglobata is common in men that have high levels of testosterone, however not uncommon in women. Acne Conglobata may lead to permanent, damage to the skin and remain persistent in adulthood irrespective of the age.

Acne Fulminans

Acne Fulminans also known as Acne Maligna, is also a severe type of Acne Conglobata. This type of acne has severe symptoms in which, one suffers from severe inflammatory and ulcerated nodular acne on the chest and back.

Gram-Negative Folliculitis

An acne-like outbreak caused due to a bacterial infection, Gram-Negative Folliculitis is a pustular rash. Usually, this type of acne can be easily diagnosed using a Gram stain. Gram-Negative Folliculitis, is highly difficult to treat, as the bacterial infection is resistant to most antibiotics prescribed to treat severe acne.

Acne Mechanica

Commonly seen in young athletes, Acne Mechanica is acne triggered by excessive heat, rubbing, or pressure on the skin.

Various Causes of Acne–

The cause of acne are many and may differ amongst the types of acne. However, the common causes of acne include.

• During adolescence, there are numerous hormonal changes in the body, such as increased production of male sex hormone, In both boys and girls. Testosterone increases the production of sebum, which gets clogged and inflamed causing Acne Vulgaris.

•The clogged pores are also prone to bacterial growth leading to blackheads or whiteheads on the skin's surface.

•Unhealthy eating habits, such as oily food, excessive sweets can aggravate or cause acne.

• Genetics also plays a role in acne, which means one is prone to acne if one or both parents suffer from the same.

•Cosmetics that clog pores and increase production of sebum can also contribute to the outbreak of acne.

Pimples with inflammation may be painful to touch and many times persistent acne may leave permanent scars on the face that may be difficult to treat.

Thus, it is vital to get the right treatment for acne, after evaluating the correct acne cause and type of acne affecting the individual by visiting a qualified practitioner and getting a  detailed valuation of the skin and symptoms.