You probably started getting acne in middle school and thought you'd grow out of it. It didn't work out that way for you. Now that you're in your mid-20s, you're wondering why the zits won't go away.
If acne is still making you feel bad, keep reading to learn what causes it, what the symptoms are, and how to get rid of it for good.
What Is Acne Vulgaris?
People who have acne vulgaris (AV) have noninflammatory lesions (blackheads and whiteheads), inflammatory lesions (papules, pustules, and nodules), and different amounts of scarring. It's called acne vulgaris, and it's the scientific name for what we call "acne."
Acne vulgaris is a common condition that affects about 85% of people at some point in their lives. It mostly happens during the teenage years.
Even though, as you probably already know, AV can still show up even when you're an adult. In fact, 50.9 percent of women between the ages of 20 and 29 have AV, and the rate drops off a little in women between the ages of 40 and 49. (26.3 percent).
Women are more likely to get adult acne than men are to get it. In fact, some research shows that women make up 66% of dermatology practitioner visits. Women over the age of 25 also make up one third of all visits to dermatologists for acne, too.
What Causes Acne Vulgaris?
People get acne because of four main things:
* Hormones make sebum production go up and down (androgen)
* A buildup of the P. acnes bacteria in the follicle
* Inflammation.
* Genetics, a high-glycemic-index diet (like chocolate and dairy), and other lifestyle factors, like smoking, can also lead to acne, but these things don't always cause it.
How To Recognise Acne Vulgaris?
Women can get acne at any age and in different degrees of severity. Female patients may be more likely to get acne on the lower third of their face, especially on their chin and jawline.
Acne lesions range from comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) to papules, pustules, cysts, and nodules, which are all different kinds of things on the skin.
Women who have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) may have acne vulgaris as a sign of the condition. Other symptoms, such as hirsutism (excessive hair growth) or menstrual irregularities, may also happen at the same time as AV.
How To Manage Acneic Skin Type?
Topical creams/ gels:
Benzoyl peroxide
Retinoids
Azelaic acid
Topical treatments are one of the mainstays for people with mild to moderate acne. These lotions and creams can be bought over the counter and with a prescription.
Benzoyl peroxide is often used to treat acne. It comes in a range of strengths (2.5 percent to 10 percent) and formulations (cream, gel, wash, foam, gel, leave-on and wash-off). There are dead skin cells that benzyl peroxide breaks down. Then, keratin plugs up the hair follicle with keratin. Benzoyl peroxide is also an anti-inflammatory agent that can fight bacteria.
As you get more blackheads and whiteheads, you might use a topical retinoid. Retinoids are comedolytic, which means they break down the plug in the follicle and remove the hair. Retinoids are also anti-inflammatory, and they work well with other topical treatments for all types of acne.
Azelaic acid is another topical treatment that works as a comedolytic, an antimicrobial, and a pain reliever. You can find it in whole grains, like wheat, rye and barley. This acid is found naturally. In people with sensitive skin, azelaic acid should be used with care. This is because it can make their skin red, burn, and itch.
For severe acne vulgaris, treatment options are as follows:
Prescription retinoids
Oral antibiotics
Isotretinoin
If you have acne, you should not just take an antibiotic pill to treat it. This is because antibiotic resistance has been increasing. So, it is best to use antibiotics only a few times a week and in combination with other treatment methods.
There is an FDA-approved drug for people who have severe AV. It can also be used to treat people who have moderate acne that is either treatment-resistant or comes back quickly after stopping oral antibiotics. Isotretinoin, which is used to treat acne, has been shown to cut down on sebum production, the number of acne lesions, and the scarring caused by acne.
There are also other treatment options, like taking an oral medication called spironolactone, which is usually taken with an oral contraceptive pill to get the best results.
