Acne (acne) is a common skin disease that occurs due to inflammation of the hair follicles. Such a disease does not carry danger to life, but it causes a lot of trouble to a person.
Acne is mainly localized in areas of the skin with the largest sebaceous glands. This is the face, upper chest, back.
Acne can be hereditary. It can be provoked by infections, endocrine and immune disorders, digestive diseases, and nervous system disorders. Acne on the face can appear in adolescence and disappear on its own. Most often found in representatives of the stronger sex.
Causes of Acne
Among the main causes of the development of this skin disease are the following:
1. Hormonal changes that affect the work of the sebaceous glands. Many women report acne on their faces before critical days. Also, during the gestation period, the expectant mother has an increased level of progesterone, which leads to excessive production of sebum.
2. Hereditary factors.
3. Stress.
4. Treatment with certain drugs, such as corticosteroids.
5. Pathology of the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine diseases.
6. Increased activity of the sebaceous glands.
7. Skin lesions that are accompanied by inflammation.
8. The problem of acne can occur with poor hygiene or, conversely, excessive cleanliness.
Acne in an adult can appear due to the use of comedogenic cosmetics. The desire to mask the defect with a thick layer of foundation causes an aggravation of the problem.
In addition, complicate the condition can try to squeeze a pimple. In no case should this be done. If acne on the face is accompanied by an infection, then such actions will lead to the fact that acne will progress, and microbes will enter the bloodstream. Due to the close connection of the blood vessels of the face with the vessels of the brain, such actions can have serious consequences, including death.
In girls, the use of contraceptives with progesterone can lead to an exacerbation of acne. If the female body has an excess of male sex hormones, then contraceptives that have antiandrogenic effects will help reduce the manifestation of the disease.
Possible forms of acne
There are non-inflammatory and inflammatory forms of acne, which are characterized by their unique features. The degree of the disease is determined by the number of rashes, the location of acne on the body, the presence or absence of certain elements of the rash.
Acne disease can occur in the form of black (open comedones) or white dots (closed comedones), papules, pustules, cysts. In the first case, acne has the appearance of enlarged and clogged skin pores. In the second - clogged pores with a small hole. You can get rid of black spots on your own or with the help of a beautician. It is difficult to remove whites on your own; specialist advice is needed.
Papules have the appearance of pink painless pimples, the size of which does not exceed 5 mm. Pustules arise as a result of the active reproduction of bacteria inside the comedone, which leads to inflammation and the formation of pus. It is undesirable to squeeze them out - this can result in an exacerbation of inflammation and an increase in the size of an acne.
Knots - large and painful acne eruptions of more than five millimeters in diameter of bluish-pink color, have an unpleasant appearance. Such a big pimple can leave scars after itself.
Mild
It is difficult to find a person who has never had pimples on his face or other parts of the body. The causes of acne lie in minor hormonal changes, mechanical damage to the skin, excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation. This condition does not require treatment, traces and scars do not remain after it. When comedones appear, there is reason to beware, as the development of inflammation and the formation of papules is possible. If a small amount of acne and comedones are constantly present on the face (no more than ten pieces), then this condition is considered a mild degree of acne. At this stage of the disease, the formation of pustules or nodes is not observed. To get rid of the problem, it is enough to adhere to the rules of hygiene, drug treatment in this case is not prescribed.
Medium grade
With an average severity of the disease, in addition to a certain number of papules and comedones (10-25), the appearance of small pustules (pustules) is observed, there are no nodes. The skin around the rashes is inflamed, bluish-pink. At this stage, a consultation with a dermatologist is necessary, self-medication will not bring any benefits, moreover, negative consequences are possible. If acne and acne are not treated, scars and scars may remain.
Severe degree
The third, severe degree is diagnosed in the presence of 25-50 papules and 21-30 pustules, a small number of painful nodes (up to five pieces). Large areas of the skin become inflamed at this stage. Nodes leave behind scars. A severe degree of the disease is treated with medications, since most often this condition is caused by hormonal disruptions, impaired immune systems, and gastrointestinal diseases.
Fourth stage
At this stage, there are more than 50 comedones and 30 papules, pustules, more than five nodes, the skin is inflamed and reddened. Perhaps the merger of pustules and the formation of abscesses, which leads to severe pain and psychological discomfort. Soreness of nodes located deep under the skin is noted, after them highly noticeable scars remain. At this stage, the patient has serious depression, and the use of antidepressants and tranquilizers only aggravates the condition of the skin. A person needs to consult not only a dermatologist, but also a psychologist.
Treatment
When choosing a treatment method, it is important to consider the prevalence of the process, the degree and duration of the disease. Most often, doctors treat acne (acne) with lotions, gels, creams that contain tretinoin. Such drugs help reduce sebum production.
Sometimes antibiotic treatment is needed to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria. In especially severe cases, a drug that contains isotretinoin is prescribed for oral administration. Such treatment is contraindicated in women during the period of bearing a child.
To avoid the appearance of scars and scars, injections of various drugs in the affected area are prescribed, which contributes to the rapid healing and removal of inflammation.
To prevent any form of the disease, preventive measures are needed. It is necessary to limit the intake of carbohydrates, fatty and fried foods, spicy foods, sweets. High fiber foods are helpful. It is important to regularly conduct water procedures using soap or special products. After playing sports or physical activity, you must take a shower. It is useful to take vitamin complexes, especially those that contain vitamins of groups B, A and E.
In the non-inflammatory form, special strips are used as a treatment with which you can mechanically remove the rash. To cleanse the skin and destroy bacteria, it is necessary to wipe the damaged areas with salicylic alcohol.
Acne of inflammatory nature is treated with a tanning bed. You can wipe the problem areas with salicylic alcohol purchased in a pharmacy. More effective is the preparation "Skinoren" based on azelaic acid or "Zinerit" with erythromycin and zinc, which destroy bacteria. You can use Baziron, which suppresses the release of sebum. Accutane has the same properties.
If the measures taken do not have the desired effect, the use of antibiotics will be required. Most often, "Clindamycin" is prescribed, the course of treatment of which is ten days. Severe acne is treated by cleansing the blood (plasmapheresis) or by removing the rash with a laser.
To cleanse the skin, use peeling. This procedure is to remove the surface layers of the skin with weak acid solutions (chemical peeling). Mechanical resurfacing (dermabrasion) may be used. You can get rid of acne with a special pinch massage, superficial cryotherapy.
Hormone treatment against acne is mainly prescribed for women. Most often, the use of combined estrogen and progestogen preparations is recommended. With polycystic ovary spironolactone is prescribed.
Home treatment
Home treatment will be effective if you follow some rules:
1. It is undesirable to wash your face more than twice a day. Frequent water procedures provoke inflammatory processes. It is necessary to replace the soap with foam or gel for problem skin, use them in moderation.
2. Follow a diet during treatment. Vegetables and fruits, dairy products should prevail in the diet. It is necessary to limit the consumption of meat and sweets. Bran, which helps to eliminate toxins, is very useful.
3. Take a complex of vitamins with zinc.
4. Do not try to squeeze out a large pimple yourself, this can increase inflammation.
Basically, to get rid of acne, it is enough to use various over-the-counter anti-acne medications with benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, resorcinol, salicylic acid and sulfur.
Benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria that cause acne. Azelaic acid has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and keratolytic effects. With the help of resorcinol, salicylic acid and sulfur, comedones are removed.
Apply such funds daily to affected areas after cleansing the skin. If its drying out or irritation is observed, reduce the frequency of use of the drug (1 time in 2-3 days).
For effective treatment at home, you can use folk remedies for acne.
Mask with bran and baking soda
Rye bran (1 tbsp.) Is ground with a coffee grinder or meat grinder, add one or two teaspoons of soda, mix thoroughly. The required amount of the mixture is diluted with water. It should turn out to be a slurry that is applied to the face and held for 7-10 minutes, after which it is washed off with cool water and a pinch of soda dissolved in it. The remaining product is stored in a glass container and used as needed.
Honey compress
Very effective remedy. Honey (2 tsp) is dissolved in hot water (1 tbsp.) And calendula tincture (2 tsp) is added. The solution needs to soak cotton pads, squeeze and apply to the inflamed areas. The procedure is carried out in the morning and in the evening.
Coniferous lotion
You will need fresh needles of pine or spruce (2 tbsp. L.), Two or three leaves of plantain, dried chamomile flowers and calendula (1 tbsp. Each). All components are mixed and poured with boiling water (0.5 l). This means rinse the face. You can pour the same amount of vodka, insist 7-10 days. Only inflamed areas are wiped with alcohol lotion no more than once a day.
Herb Ice Cubes
Washing in the morning can be replaced by wiping with ice cubes, which helps to narrow the pores. You need to take St. John's wort and chamomile for 2 tbsp. l., pour boiling water (1 l) and cook over low heat for 7-10 minutes. The broth is infused for 4-5 hours and poured into molds for ice.
Prevention
The main preventive measure for acne on the face is regular skin care. People who are prone to this disease should not use fatty creams, oils, or ointments that contain lanolin and petrolatum. You must choose the cosmetics that is labeled “non-comedogenic”, it does not have components that contribute to the occurrence of acne.
During treatment, it is necessary to exclude fatty, spicy, fried foods, sweet and flour products from the diet. It is recommended to limit the use of carbonated drinks, strong tea and coffee. Alcohol and smoking negatively affect the skin condition. Vegetables and fruits, freshly squeezed juices, sour-milk products should prevail in the diet. Proper nutrition, walking in the fresh air, physical activity in combination with medication or alternative treatment will help to forget about acne (acne and acne).