Get Clear Skin with our Acne Treatments in Kolkata

What is Acne?

Acne is a common skin condition that happens when hair follicles under the skin become clogged. Sebum-oil that helps keep skin from drying out-and dead skin cells plug the pores, which leads to outbreaks of lesions, commonly called pimples or zits. Most often, the outbreaks occur on the face but can also appear on the back, chest and shoulders.

Who gets Acne?

People of all races and ages get acne, but it is most common in teens and young adults. When acne appears during the teenage years, it is more common in males. Acne can continue into adulthood, and when it does, it is more common in women.

Types of Acne

Acne causes several types of lesions, or pimples. Doctors refer to enlarged or plugged hair follicles as comedones. Types of acne include :

Whiteheads : Plugged hair follicles that stay beneath the skin and produce a white bump.
Blackheads : Plugged follicles that reach the surface of the skin and open up. They look black on the skin surface because the air discolours the sebum, not because they are dirty.

Causes of Acne

Acne is due to a combination of factors such as :

Excess or high production of oil in the pore.
Buildup of dead skin cells in the pore.
Growth of bacteria in the pore.

The following factors may increase your risk for developing acne:

Hormones : An increase in androgens, which are male sex hormones, may lead to acne. These increase in both boys and girls normally during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy can also cause acne.

Diagnosis of Acne

To diagnose acne, doctors may :

Ask about your family history, and for girls or women, ask about their menstrual cycles.
Ask you about your symptoms, including how long you have had acne.
Ask what medications you are currently taking or recently stopped.

In most cases, tests are unnecessary. If features are atypical consider :

Skin swabs for microscopy and culture.
Hormonal tests in females.

Treatment for Acne

The goals of treatment are to help heal existing lesions, stop new lesions from forming, and prevent scarring. Medications can help stop some of the causes of acne from developing, such as abnormal clumping of cells in the follicles, high sebum levels, bacteria, and inflammation. Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter or prescription medications to take by mouth or apply to the skin.

Topical medications, which you apply to the skin, include :

Over-the-counter products, such as benzoyl peroxide, which kills bacteria and may decrease the production of sebum.
Antibiotics, which are usually used with other topical medications.
Retinoids, which come from vitamin A and can help treat lesions and reduce inflammation. They can also help prevent the formation of acne and help with scarring.
Salicylic acid, which helps break down blackheads and whiteheads and also helps reduce the shedding of cells lining the hair follicles.

For some people, the doctor may prescribe oral medications, such as:

Antibiotics, which help slow or stop the growth of bacteria and reduce inflammation. Doctors usually prescribe antibiotics for moderate to severe acne, such as severe nodular acne (also called cystic acne).
Isotretinoin, an oral retinoid. Similar to topical retinoids, taking the medication by mouth can also help prevent the formation of acne and help with scarring.
Hormone therapy, used primarily in women, which helps stop the effects of androgens on the sebaceous gland.
Corticosteroids, which help lower inflammation in severe acne, including severe nodular acne.

Some people who have severe acne or acne scarring that does not respond to topical or oral medications may need additional treatments, such as :

Laser and other light therapies.
Injecting corticosteroids directly into affected areas of your skin.
Superficial chemical peels that a doctor recommends and applies to the area.

Living with Acne

If you have acne, the following recommendations may help you in taking care of your skin.

Clean your skin gently. Use a mild cleanser in the morning, in the evening, and after heavy exercise.
Try to avoid using strong soaps, astringents, or rough scrub pads. Rinse your skin with lukewarm water.
Shampoo your hair regularly, especially if you have oily hair.
Avoid rubbing and touching skin lesions. Squeezing or picking blemishes can cause scars or dark blotches to develop.
Use sunscreen, and avoid sunburn and suntan. Many of the medicines used to treat acne can make you more prone to sunburn.
Choose cosmetics carefully. All cosmetics and hair care products should be oil free.
Choose products labeled noncomedogenic, which means they do not clog pores. In some people, however, even these products may make acne worse.