As per the study, every year 40 to 50 million Americans suffer from acne. While it is often associated with teenagers and adolescents, many adults that are 25 years of age or older, experience some symptoms of acne. The first step of treating a condition is identifying it. Once you know more about a condition you can take the steps to seek relevant medical treatment.
1) White Heads
Whiteheads develop when oil, bacteria, and dead skin are trapped in your pores. They are often unsightly and may appear in inopportune times. Fortunately, they are easily prevented.
One thing to consider is what does not cause acne. Acne prevention is one of the most ubiquitous forms of medical disinformation and unwise medical advice. Common scapegoats are hygiene, greasy foods, and chocolate. These factors do not contribute to increased acne symptoms.
Avoid using chemical treatments, harsh soaps, and vigorous scrubbing will only irritate your skin and make the condition worse.
You should not pop a white head unless approved by your doctor. Identifying a superficial pimple can be difficult for a layman. You can develop a staph infection which turns a relatively benign pimple into a potential source of infection. Always consult a medical professional before popping or picking acne symptoms.
You can seek over-the-counter products such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. These may take a few weeks to produce results. If this doesn’t work, you should seek a professional medical option. Prescription required products such as Tazorac or Retin-A may be necessary. They do take time to take effect, but rash treatments can cause scarring, irritation, or worsening acne.
2) Blackheads
Blackheads are small bumps that appear on the surface of the skin from clogged hair follicles. They usually appear on your face but can form on other parts of the body. It’s a milder form of cane and is often less obvious than whiteheads.
Your face produces oil which helps keep your skin soft. While the oil is beneficial, dead skin cells and oil can collect and clog the skin follicles. When the buildup creates a bump in the skin that is closed, it develops a white head. If the bump opens, exposure to air causes it to turn back black.
Blackheads can develop when your body produces too much oil when the skin is irritated and skin cells build up on the skin instead of shedding, hormonal changes from puberty, and certain drugs.
To prevent blackheads you should gently wash your face in the morning, at night, and when you find yourself sweating. You should also avoid touching your face. If you suffer from blackheads, you should seek medical advice to see if there is an effective medical prevention or removal procedure.
3) Pustule
Pustules are large pimples filled with pus that appear on the skin. They can appear on most parts of the body. While pustules can form from other conditions, it is most commonly associated with acne.
They may appear along with an infection. The pus that forms the pustule is a combination of white blood cells that die fighting off an illness, and infected fluid.
While pustules are usually harmless, redness, swelling, and pain indicate they may be infected. Do not pop a pustule as it may lead to infection and even scarring. Treatment involves gently washing the area with soap and water twice a day and OTC medications such as cortisone cream, and calamine lotion. Seek medical attention if your pustule lasts longer than two weeks.
4) Papule
A papule is similar to a pustule. The main difference is the lack of pus. It may form into a pustule if it fills with pus at any point. It can appear in a variety of shapes and may, or may not have a defined border. It does not indicate you have any diseases or other medical conditions. If papule forms shortly after a bug bite or after you start a new medication, call your doctor or pharmacist.
Papules may develop as part of an allergic reaction from touch, warts, keratosis, and eczema.
You can usually treat a papule at home using household products and over-the-counter medicine. Clean it gently twice a day using warm water and gentle soaps. Don’t use perfume or make-up in the affected area and let it breathe when possible.
Children require special consideration if they have chickenpox. If they are infants, have a preexisting skin condition, weakened immune system, or are 13 years or older, they may develop complications.
If you develop papules from Eczema, you should use oatmeal-based bath products, moisturizers, and possibly steroids if prescribed by your doctor.
5) Nodule
Nodules are a more severe type of acne. It develops as a small bump under your skin. It may have a color to it and will be red if it becomes inflamed. It will not develop a growth above the skin like a minor form of acne and may hurt when touched.
As nodules develop under the skin, conventional treatment methods for acne will not work. It can remove dead cells and oil, but as the nodule appears subdermally, it will not treat the nodule. Your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics and prescription-grade retinoids. They may have to perform procedures including laser therapy, injections, extraction, or drainage if your condition does not improve from drug treatments.
Nodules may cause scarring. The inflamed tissue may damage the skin, or it may scar if it is picked or popped. Popping it can cause the pore to enlarge and leave a scab.
6) Cysts
Of all the types of acne we’ve discussed, cysts are the most serious. Like Nodules, it develops underneath the skin. Being more severe, it develops deeper under the skin and appears as a boil-like, pus-filled bump on the skin that may be tender and painful when touched. You need to see a dermatologist to alleviate cysts when they develop.
Cysts are caused by oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells that are trapped in the pores of your skin. It often occurs due to oily skin or hormonal changes common in youth and old age. Cystic acne will usually not usually go away without intervention. You should seek medical care to determine the severity of the cyst and relevant treatment options.
Over-the-counter treatments are not potent enough to treat cysts. Some treatment options include prescription topical retinoids such as Retin-A and Tazorac, oral tablets such as Accutane (a powerful Vitamin A medicine), antibiotics, diuretics (Spironolactone), and oral contraceptives to manage hormones.
It may take several weeks (or even months) to notice results. During treatment, you should wash your face in the evenings with a gentle cleanser and warm water. Use cosmetics that are labeled “non-comedogenic” and do not go to bed wearing makeup. Avoid picking at any bumps on your skin as milder forms of acne may grow more serious if irritated. Wearing sunscreen to prevent irritation to acne and removing stress can also prevent breakouts.
Cysts are the most likely form to leave scars. Never pick or pop cysts to prevent scarring and reduce the spread of infection. Preventing acne is the most effective way to prevent acne scarring. If you do happen to notice scarring once your acne is treated, follow up with your dermatologist for treatments that can reduce the appearance of scars.
