What is acne?
Acne is a skin condition that commonly affects teenagers, usually girls between the ages of 14 and 17 years and boys between 16 and 19 years. It can continue into the 20s and 30s and sometimes first develops at these ages.
It affects the face in 99% of people and can also be present on the back and chest. It may be more severe at one site than another and may affect one or all three areas. Acne can range from mild acne, where blackheads, whiteheads and a few inflamed spots are present, to severe acne where there may be large, deep lesions that can take weeks to settle and may cause scarring.
Acne is not infectious and cannot be passed on to another person. Acne can cause considerable psychological stress and should always be treated. Without treatment it could last for up to eight years and cause permanent scarring and disfigurement.
What causes acne?
There are many myths surrounding acne—it is not caused by poor hygiene or dirt and cannot be cured by washing more frequently, in fact this may make the condition worse. In addition, there is no evidence that eating chocolate or sweets can cause or worsen acne. However, some people may find that certain foods make their acne worse. It may help to avoid these foods but a strict diet alone will not cure acne.
The sebaceous (oil) glands are small glands surrounding the fine hairs on the skin. These glands produce sebum (oil), which is released via the hair follicles. Acne is usually triggered by puberty when rising levels of male hormones (androgens) in both boys and girls cause the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum. This excess sebum causes the lining of the hair follicles to become inflamed, making them narrower and resulting in the formation of plugs at the surface of the skin. Bacteria can then grow causing redness, swelling and the formation of pus. The black in a blackhead is not dirt but dried oil and shed skin cells.
How is acne treated?
The choice of treatment depends upon the severity of the acne. All acne should be treated as it will not improve if left untreated and could become worse. Mild acne is usually treated with a topical lotion, cream or gel (applied directly to the skin). Many of these products contain an ingredient called
benzoyl peroxide (
Benzagel,
Brevoxyl,
Triaz), which has an antibacterial effect and needs to be used daily over a period of months before improvement occurs. Benzoyl peroxide is found in many acne preparations that can be purchased over the counter, but is also available on prescription in different concentrations.
Azelaic acid (
Azelex) is less irritating than benzoyl peroxide and also fights bacteria, but it may take many months to produce an improvement, particularly in moderately severe acne. It is used when there are large numbers of blackheads present.
Topical antibiotics such as
erythromycin and
clindamycin (
Clindagel,
Evoclin) may be prescribed for mild acne and are often given in combination with benzoyl peroxide. In moderate acne, topical treatments containing substances known as retinoids, such as
tretinoin (
Avita,
Atralin,
Retin-A), or retinoid-like substances, such as
adapalene (
Differin) may be used. These products increase sebum drainage, reduce plug formation on the skin surface and increase skin renewal. They should not be used in pregnancy.