acne vulgaris

What is acne vulgaris?
Acne vulgaris (acne) is a common skin condition that occurs when oil and dead skin cells clog the skin's pores. Acne primarily affects teens; more than 85% experience at least a mild form of this condition. 1 The most severe cases can be both emotionally and physically scarring. While most people outgrow acne by their early 20s, some—especially women—have acne into their 40s or 50s.
What causes acne vulgaris?
During puberty, elevated hormone levels stimulate sebaceous glands to produce more oil, also called sebum, which is normally released through the hair shaft to lubricate and protect the skin. Sebum combines with dead cells, forming a plug in the skin pore. The plug clogs the pore and bacteria grow under the surface of the skin in the mixture of sebum and cells. The trapped mixture leaks into adjacent tissues and causes inflammation, redness, and pus.
See an illustration of how pimples form.
Contrary to popular myth, acne is not caused by chocolate or greasy foods.
What are the symptoms of acne?
Symptoms of acne include whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples, which usually occur on the face, neck, shoulders, back, or chest. Pimples that are large and deep are called cystic lesions. Cystic lesions can cause painful infections and lead to scarring.
How is acne treated?
Treatment for acne depends upon its severity. The goal of treatment is to reduce or eliminate outbreaks and to prevent scarring. Gentle cleansing with soap or nonprescription products, such as benzoyl peroxide lotions, often controls mild acne cases and prevents new outbreaks. If these treatments do not work, your doctor may prescribe topical creams or lotions containing antibiotics or other kinds of medication.
For moderate to severe cases, antibiotics are often used. Topical benzoyl peroxide lotions are usually used along with antibiotics because the combination increases effectiveness and decreases the risk of developing antibiotic resistance.
If you have acne nodules—solid, dome- or irregular-shaped, inflamed, painful lumps—your doctor might first prescribe a topical retinoid, a cream or lotion that contains a form of vitamin A, and a topical antibiotic, along with an oral antibiotic.
If your acne does not improve or if you develop deep nodules and cysts, your doctor may recommend an oral retinoid, such as Accutane. This medication is usually used as a last resort, because it has some rare but serious side effects and is expensive.
Light wave therapy, which uses a narrow-band, high-intensity blue light, has recently been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This therapy has shown to be helpful in treating mild to moderate acne that has not responded to other treatments. 2
What can be done about acne scars?
Several treatments are used to improve the appearance of acne scars. These treatments range from collagen injections, to removing damaged layers of skin by various methods, to surgically cutting out the scar and repairing the hole. The best treatment for you depends upon the severity of scarring. Sometimes a combination of treatments is used.
What can I do to prevent acne?
If you are destined to get acne, there's really not much you can do to prevent it. Scientists do not understand exactly why teens start to produce excessive sebum and develop acne, although they think that hormones, bacteria, heredity, and stress may play a role.