Acne is a common disease, which affects many young and not so young people, for which finding a treatment is difficult if you do not know what type it is and what the cause is.
Oh no! Again those annoying pimples start to appear on your face. Adult, summer, maskne, for cosmetics, for medications, excoriated, associated with diseases of the endocrine, occupational or fulminans system. Up to nine different types of acne can be behind your pimples and pimples.
Table of Contents
Types Of Acne And Causes
Although acne is acne, they are categorized into different types that are easy to identify if you know them. Go for it!
Adult Acne
30% of women over 25 have acne . This is a type that affects more women than men: between 11% and 12% of women compared to 3% of adult men. What’s more, you may have gotten rid of youth acne and still suffer from it as an adult. This is what is known as “late-onset acne”, something that happens in 18% of cases. Although it can also be severe or persistent acne -82% of cases-, which is when it is suffered since adolescence, with lesions most days and worsening before the rule.
Adult acne can be more severe than juvenile acne and more difficult to treat.
“The main difference with juvenile acne is that the adult is milder and more moderate. It is of an inflammatory type , with few comedones, which appear mainly in the lower part of the face, that is, the perioral region, mandibular branch, chin and neck ”, describes dermatologist Mayte Truchuelo, member of the AEDV (Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology).
Adults acne worse when will come the rule , if there are alterations or illnesses hormonal , and in situations of stress . In fact, “up to 50% of cases are caused by gynecological disorders, such as suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome “.
Other possible causes would be genetic predisposition, the use of occlusive and comedogenic cosmetics (with a higher proportion of essential oils than water or a high concentration of fatty excipients), stress, following a poor diet (due to consumption of high-index foods glycemic) and smoking .
Any of these factors “causes us to produce more sebum – skin fat – which causes clogging of the pores and the sebaceous gland. And very important for adult acne is that “it is a more stubborn acne than normal so it costs more to get rid of it”, warns the dermatologist.
Summer Acne
It must sound like you. In summer your pimples improve and you enjoy an enviable skin, but it is to return from vacation and again they sprout again. You are not the only one, because, again, it is a type of acne that occurs more among women . Specifically, between 25 and 40 years old, who, in many cases, have already suffered from teenage acne.
“They usually appear pimples on the forehead, cheeks, the back of the nose and are accompanied by redness, itching and irritation,” according to the doctor.
Summer acne usually appears after the summer and the use of very oily sun creams can worsen the appearance of acne.
Among the causes of summer acne. The Acne improves in summer because UV rays are anti-inflammatory. But, between 10% and 15% of the cases it worsens on the return due to heat or sweat , which produces an obstruction of the sebaceous glands ”.
There is one more possible cause: the use of sunscreen products during the summer. ” Sunscreens that are too greasy and clog pores, especially cosmetic filters, which are more greasy than physical filters,” adds the expert.
We must also be careful with this type of acne because, if it is not treated well, the pimples can end up turning into spots on the skin .”This type of acne improves with the use of oil-free and non-comedogenic sun products , which have chemical filters instead of physical ones, as they are more cosmetic.”
Maskne (Mask + Acne)
The mandatory use of a mask has already led to a new type of acne, known as maskne, due to friction and lack of oxygenation of the lower third.
The new use of masks has caused a new type of acne known as maskne.
It occurs equally in men and women , although there is an increase of between 5% and 10% of consultations by women between 20 and 50 years old who have an acneiform reaction due to occlusion and the lack of perspiration of the skin aging due to wearing a mask for so many hours.
The truth is that women are the only ones who consult, which is why it is believed that the figure would fall short and could be doubled.
The causes of maskne are, according to the expert, “the humidity environment that is created, together with the concentration of CO2, the friction itself and the change in the skin microbiota , causes acne bacteria to grow and papules and pustules similar to acne pimples ”.
For this type of acne to improve, it is necessary to rest from the use of a face mask whenever possible and that it is as less occlusive as possible.
Cosmetic Acne
It is so called because it appears when we are using cosmetics that do not suit our skin or we are stuffing it with them. Perhaps because women are more familiar with the daily use of these products, 70% of them suffer from it compared to 30% of men.
“It is characterized by producing less inflammatory lesions , with less pus, redness and pain, but smaller and more numerous, which usually appear on the forehead , especially,” says the AEDV dermatologist.
Cosmetic acne can be avoided by using oil-free, non-comedogenic cosmetics and chemical sunscreens.
Among the causes we find, as Truchuelo explains, ” anti-aging , moisturizing, nourishing creams and cosmetics , makeups and sunscreens have a formulation, with a higher proportion of oil than water or incorporate a high concentration of fatty excipients, that occlude the pores ”. As in summer acne, you have to bet on the use of oil free cosmetics , non-comedogenic and chemical sunscreens.
Endocrine Acne
Or of endocrinological cause, it occurs equally in men and women. “It is not only manifested by the appearance of acne, but there may be a considerable increase in hair in areas where it should not appear (on the face),” says the doctor.
It is of the inflammatory type, with few comedones, which appear mainly in the lower part of the face – perioral region, mandibular ramus, chin and neck. Endocrine acne is caused by an alteration of the thyroid, the adrenal glands, in diabetic patients or those with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Endocrine acne appears on the lower part of the face, in men and women, and must be treated by a dermatologist and endocrine.
This type of acne is controlled with the joint work of a dermatologist and endocrine, and the administration of antiandrogen contraceptives or specific drugs to control the thyroid, adrenal glands, or diabetes.
Medication Acne
As its name indicates, it is a type of acne caused by the habitual consumption of some types of drugs.
As in the case of cosmetic acne, it produces small and uniform, little-varied, low-inflammatory lesions that appear, especially on the face, décolleté, and back. Experts describe them as “painful nodules and pustules.” They can even leave scars and pigmentation spots.
Medication acne is produced by the habitual consumption of some drugs and we should consult the possibility of taking a break from this or replacing it with another.
Among the causes of acne due to medications, according to the doctor, “among the most frequent drugs are corticosteroids, anabolic drugs (loaded with androgens), phenytoin, lithium, complexes of vitamins B1, B6 and B12 and even oral contraceptives that can alter hormonal levels and stimulate the sebaceous glands more than necessary ”.
In these cases, it is interesting to consult with the doctor the possibility of taking a break from the drug or replacing it with another.
Excoriated Acne
It has always been said that the face is the mirror of the soul, well, let’s say, this type of acne is a good example of it. It is a type of scab lesion that occurs on the face (forehead, cheeks and nose) and in areas where it is easy to scratch.
Stress and anxiety are the causes of excoriated acne and must be treated in parallel by a dermatologist and a psychologist.
Always in the zone of the dominant hand. That is, if you are right-handed, on the right side of the body ”, clarifies the dermatologist. It is common among people obsessed with pimples , especially among women, who do not stop touching them . It occurs in approximately 70% of women compared to 30% of men. In addition, in some cases, the person does not even realize that he is ‘destroying’ his skin.
“it is an acne resulting from stress and anxiety , more typical of people with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders.”
Let’s say it is an acne of psychological origin , which, in addition to dermatologists, must be treated by a psychologist and a psychiatrist. Treatment between a dermatologist and a psychologist must go hand in hand in these cases. The breathing techniques and relaxation can help.
Occupational Acne
It is a type of contact acne that occurs more in men than in women due to the type of profession they perform. “Especially in those that involve the manipulation of industrial products that cause follicular occlusion in any area of the face and body that comes into contact with them.”
The main cause of occupational acne is daily contact with lubricating oils and substances derived from petroleum, hydrochlorides, hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, tar, bleach or aggressive cleaning agents.
Occupational acne is caused by continued contact with industrial products, especially lubricating oils and substances derived from petroleum
Acne Fulminans
It is the most serious variety, although luckily it is the least common. In fact, it is quite exceptional. It is also called acute, febrile, ulcerative acne . And it usually occurs more in young men, between 13 and 22 years old. It is accompanied by fever, general malaise, joint pain, cysts, suppuration of pus and elevation of leukocytes in the blood.
It is characterized by presenting papulo-pustular lesions, cysts and violaceous nodules on the face (forehead, cheeks and nose), and upper part of the back. The cause of acne fulminans may be due to a rebound effect caused precisely by the treatment of severe acne with isotretinoin (oral antibiotic). Or it can also be caused by the abusive consumption of anabolics (steroids), in bodybuilders and weightlifters.
What Is The Best Acne Treatment?
Although there are different types of acne, there are some general actions that all people who suffer from acne should do. These are some:
Facial Hygiene Morning And Night
Oily or acne-prone skin must comply as a mantra the maximum of facial cleansing morning and night. How?
With micellar waters or keratolytic foams , which incorporate salicylic acid, mainly, because it is capable of unclogging pores.On the contrary, it is advisable to avoid the use of tonic. Although a priori it may seem a necessity, the only thing it achieves is to further irritate the skin. And if necessary, you can perform a more intense cleaning with an electric facial brush .
Facial cleansing, morning and night, is of vital importance as an acne treatment.
“The most resistant skins can use it daily, and the most sensitive ones should do it once or twice a week.” Advantage? “This tool cleans in depth, removes residues and dead cells, and helps the cosmetics that we are going to apply later to penetrate better”.
Keratolytic Cosmetics
It is convenient to use a cream or a mattifying fluid that hydrates , but at the same time has anti-sebum action and reduces fat. “They are those that contain alpha hydroxy acids (salicylic acid, glycolic acid, azelaic acid) that, in addition to unclogging the pore and eliminating dead skin cells, control the production of fat and have antibacterial activity,” says the dermatologist.
Another active ingredient that also works very well for this type of skin is benzoyl peroxide. “It reduces the presence of acne bacteria, comedones –shein-, fat and inflammation. And retinoic acid and retinoids are especially indicated in acne with comedones – pimples -, it begins at minimum concentrations -0.01% and 0.025% – and gradually increases, so that the skin adapts and thus avoid irritations, flaking and a feeling of tightness.
Lastly, there would be topical antibiotics – clindamycin phosphate and erythromycin – which have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. And remember that your morning care routine should always end with a sunscreen, but not just anybody will do this type of skin. “They have to be oil-free filters , better chemical than physical because they are more cosmetic, and non-comedogenic to avoid causing summer or cosmetic acne”, warns the expert.
Oral Treatment
In the most severe cases, it is necessary to take an antibiotic, antiandrogenic contraceptive or more specific treatment with isotretinoin, a derivative of vitamin A – retinoic acid. Any of them must always be prescribed by a doctor.
The most widely used antibiotics are tetracyclines and their derivatives. The usual dose is 50 to 100 mg / day. They are anti-inflammatory, anti-infective and bacteriostatic – they reduce the presence of acne bacteria. And they are usually taken for 3 months.
On the other hand, antiandrogenic contraceptives are used, above all, when there is a hormonal alteration behind and there are signs of hyperandrogenism, hirsutism, intense seborrhea, menstrual disorders and / or polycystic ovaries. Treatment usually lasts between 3 and 6 months.
And as for isotretinoin , it is a synthetic derivative of vitamin A –retinoic acid– and the treatment of choice when acne is intense and presents nodules or cysts with a tendency to leave scars.
It is prescribed at very low doses – between 5 and 20 mg / day – and even intermittently for a year, to avoid the side effects derived from higher doses, such as generalized dryness of the skin and mucosa. It is anti-inflammatory, reduces fat production, bacterial proliferation and obstruction of the hair follicle.
Professional Acne Treatments
Some professional treatments can remove acne lesions and scars, preventing marks from remaining. You have to resort to them in the most severe cases, when after maintaining a good cleaning and other resources, acne does not disappear. These are the most effective:
Microdermabrasion
It is a mechanical peeling that works by sweeping multiple micro-crystals over the skin. This removes the outermost layer and with it, dead cells, blackheads, acne lesions and scars. In addition, it tightens pores and activates the production of new collagen and elastin, thus improving the appearance and care of the skin . Between 4 and 8 sessions are recommended to notice powerful results.
Intense Pulsed Light IPL
Intense pulsed light equipment acts on the epidermis, more specifically on the blood vessels that feed the sebaceous glands, to eliminate acne bacteria that cause inflammation and excess sebum that generates pimples in the hair follicles.
They are performed between 3 and 4 sessions and it also improves marks and scars.
Vbeam Pulsed Dye Laser
It produces impacts of very intense yellow light that are specifically absorbed by hemoglobin and thus transmits heat to the blood vessels of the dermis, achieving an anti-inflammatory effect it destroys acne bacteria.It also acts by reducing the activity of the sebaceous glands, preventing the formation of scars and remodeling collagen and elastin. Sessions needed, between 3 and 4.
Kleresca Acne Treatment
It is based on the interaction between a gel with chromophores and a blue light lamp . Chromophores convert light into fluorescent energy capable of penetrating the skin and activating its own repair processes.
That is, it stimulates the skin to repair itself. In a total of 8 sessions, it eliminates the signs of acne, rosacea and scars. It is effective on the face, chest and back.
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