Acne: effective treatment, causes, symptoms [opinion of La-Roche posay dermatologists]

What is acne?

Acne (pimples, acne) is a serious inflammatory skin disease that occurs due to the accumulation of excess sebum in the mouths of the hair canals. This leads to the formation of the so-called “cork”, which creates an ideal environment for the reproduction of bacteria, the appearance of inflammation on the skin, rashes and other imperfections.

Acne on the face can manifest itself in different ways, depending on the severity and degree of neglect of inflammatory processes. It can be black dots, red pimples, purulent painful rashes, whiteheads. In most cases, rashes affect the T-zone – the zone with the highest activity of the sebaceous glands and the most enlarged pores. This is the forehead, nose and chin. In the U-zone (cheeks and cheekbones), acne appears less frequently.

Types and stages of acne

Dermatologists distinguish several separate types of acne, which differ in symptoms and external manifestations:

• Closed comedones (aka subcutaneous acne) – rashes consisting of compacted and inflamed skin secretions (mostly they are black or gray in color). They are located under the skin and are formed as a result of the oxidative reaction of the contents with oxygen.
• Open comedones (better known as blackheads) – have the same nature as closed ones, but appear exclusively on the surface of the skin.
• Nodules – subcutaneous nodular formations, which are accompanied by inflammation and pain. They are firm to the touch and feel like hard bumps on palpation. In some cases, they may be surrounded by purulent discharge.
• papules – painful small red pimples that do not have purulent content.
• Pustules – well-marked (“classic”) acne. Accompanied by purulent discharge and a pronounced inflamed area of ​​red skin.

The stages of acne development can be conditionally divided into:

• Light form – oily sheen appears, black and white non-inflammatory acne.
• Moderate severity – oily sheen becomes more intense, a lot of black and white acne, red inflammatory rashes (from 10 to 20 elements).
• Moderate form (expressed in the formation of a large number of comedones and 10-20 acne with signs of inflammation).
• Severe form of acne (more than 40 elements), large and painful nodes, pustules and cysts, persistent inflammatory processes.

Causes of acne on the face

About 80% of people have experienced acne at least once in their lives. We will analyze the possible factors for the appearance of acne, which provoke hyperactivity of sebum synthesis and the appearance of inflammatory foci.

TOP 13 causes of acne on the face:

1. changes in the work of the hormonal system or fluctuations in the hormonal background (puberty, certain phases of the cycle, pregnancy);
2. diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, thyroid gland;
3. unbalanced diet, frequent lack of sleep, bad habits;
4. improper care;
5. demodicosis (acne mite);
6. use of anabolic steroids;
7. the use of drugs containing halogens and barbiturates;
8. skin lesions accompanied by inflammation;
9. intensive reproduction of acne bacteria on the surface of the skin (Propionibacterium acnes or Malassezia), which provoke the occurrence of inflammatory foci;
10. thickening of the stratum corneum of the epidermis (hyperkeratosis);
11. accumulation in the pores of keratinized particles of the epidermis, mixed with sebum;
12. violation of hygiene rules;
13. stress: the stress hormone cortisol, produced by the adrenal glands during emotional upheaval, activates the sebaceous glands.

Acne treatment

Acne is a serious condition and should be treated under the supervision of a dermatologist. If the problem is limited to a couple of acne (comedones, pustules) and clogged pores, you can solve it yourself with the help of dermatocosmetics.

If the situation is serious, cystic inflammations, deep subcutaneous pimples (nodules) or nodular acne have appeared, in this case it is better to consult a specialist. He will help prescribe medication, including, among other things, antibiotics, hormonal drugs, as well as drugs with isotretinoin. Under such circumstances, self-medication can only exacerbate the problem.

Acne marks and pimples on the face and body can make a person’s life uncomfortable, they take away self-confidence and create psychological problems in communication. At some point, a person despairs of waiting until “everything goes away by itself” and decides to treat acne correctly, that is, he makes an appointment with a dermatologist. The first question that almost all patients ask is: how soon can you get rid of acne. We addressed it to Philippe Beaulieu, a dermatologist with many years of experience.

All my patients impatiently and hopefully ask when acne will go away … The answer directly depends on the cause of acne and whether the patient is ready to follow all the recommendations of a dermatologist. It is important to understand that if acne is left untreated, the disease can last for years.

Especially often young people suffer from acne – about 80% of teenagers face the problem of acne. Dr. Philippe Beaulieu also notes that the problem does not resolve itself with age:

Acne is not just a teen problem. This disease occurs in 40% of adults, especially for a long time acne can occur in women. About a third of adult women suffer from acne, especially often relapses occur at certain periods of the cycle. And sometimes rashes happen even in children.

How to get rid of acne:

• Exfoliation Exfoliation of the keratinized layer of cells and intensive cleansing of the skin at a deeper level with the help of scrubs, peels, gommages, masks. The frequency of procedures depends on the type and condition of the skin.
• Bactericidal agents Pharmaceutical cosmetics have a bacterial effect on the epidermis, slowing down the rate of development of propionobacteria, which contribute to the development of new imperfections, dry existing rashes and reduce sebum production. The composition of such funds includes active ingredients in high concentrations, allowing you to comprehensively deal with the problem of rashes.
• Antibiotics For the treatment of stage 3 and 4 acne (moderate and severe), a dermatologist prescribes systemic antibiotics: minocycline, doxycycline, tetracycline and erythromycin.
• Hormonal therapy For the treatment of acne in adulthood caused by a hormonal imbalance in the body, a dermatologist prescribes appropriate tests and hormone therapy.
• Retinoids With regular use, vitamin A derivatives, aimed at normalizing skin cell renewal, effectively fight acne and post-acne (scars and hyperpigmentation), even out skin tone and relief, and accelerate the exfoliation of dead skin cells.
• Phototherapy Acne treatment with phototherapy (radiation) is based on the impact on problem areas of the skin with an intense stream of light, while reducing the production of sebum. The procedure also improves blood circulation in the sebaceous glands, which contributes to reparative processes.

The speed of getting rid of acne directly depends on how quickly you begin to take a comprehensive approach to treatment. Discipline in diet and daily hygiene is very important, as well as strict adherence to the recommendations of a dermatologist on the use of drugs and skin care cosmetics.

It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of how long acne is treated. Even if pimples appear quickly and suddenly, it takes time for the skin to start responding to treatment. If everything is done correctly, positive dynamics can be noticeable in a month. Mild acne (I and II degree), as a rule, does not require medical treatment and in most cases it is possible to get rid of the disease in 6-12 weeks.

What will happen if acne of 2-3 degrees is not treated?

If you relax and, instead of being treated according to the recommendation of a dermatologist, simply squeeze out acne or mask it with cosmetics, the problem can drag on for many months. With moderate and severe acne (III and IV degree), complex therapy and drug treatment are required, which at this stage of the disease can last up to a year.

Advanced stages of acne rarely go unnoticed. According to recent studies, 95% of people after improper acne treatment develop post-acne – stagnant multi-colored spots on the skin, scars and bumps, bumps in areas with the most severe inflammation.

This means that after acne, the skin can lose its beautiful healthy appearance due to imperfections that have appeared:

• Enlarged pores
• Red, blue and even purple traces
• Scars and bumps
• Sebaceous cysts
• Whiteheads
• brown spots
• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
• Dry sensitive skin
• Peeling skin

The severity of the resulting complications depends on how badly the skin was affected. So, for example, the appearance of hyperpigmentation indicates a skin injury at the level of the epidermis. And scars and skin irregularities are the result of damage to the dermal tissue layers.

How to take care of acne skin?

Skin with acne needs gentle gentle cleansing, regular effective moisturizing and timely suppression of emerging foci of new inflammation. Proper care significantly speeds up the treatment of acne and reduces the likelihood of scarring and blemishes on the skin.

Comprehensive skin care for acne can be divided into 3 main stages:

1. Cleansing – removal of dead dermis, skin impurities, excess fat
2. humidification
3. Recovery and soothing care for inflamed skin

La Roche-Posay’s Best Acne Skin Treatments Review

To treat acne and reduce the likelihood of post-acne, La Roche-Posay dermatologists recommend using the EFFACLAR line of skincare products. The products of this range are designed specifically for problem skin prone to rashes (pimples, blackheads, blackheads). Comprehensive care using EFFACLAR cosmetics in a short time allows you to reduce existing inflammation, and also prevents the appearance of new acne.

• For cleansing skin (including sensitive skin), use Effaclar Cleansing Gel for Oily Skin. Its formula contains glycosil and zinc pidolate. These components regulate excess sebum and effectively eliminate rashes.
• If the skin needs deep cleansing, then use the Effaclar mattifying mask. With its help, you can remove the smallest even invisible to the eye pollution. The specially developed formula for problematic skin allows you to visibly reduce enlarged pores and reduce excess sebum.
• After cleansing the skin, it must be toned with Effaclar Pore Tightening Lotion. This tool helps to cleanse the pores and effectively evens out the surface of the skin. Contains Lipo-Hydroxy Acid micro-exfoliants for exfoliating action.
• Effaclar moisturizing emulsion with a mattifying and sebum-regulating effect is ideal for moisturizing the skin. It visibly mattifies the skin with a greasy sheen and reduces the production of sebum. Prevents overdrying of the skin and intensively moisturizes the epidermis.
• Corrective cream-gel Effaclar DUO [+] is a universal remedy that effectively fights rashes at every stage of their appearance and development. Regular use of the product prevents the appearance of stagnant spots and other post-acne symptoms.