Acne Agony - Symptoms & Treatments

Sep 20, 2021Claire Kelly

We can all agree that Acne can be a very disheartening skin condition to deal with, constantly trying to find what’s working, and what’s not!

We are here to help you to better understand Acne and aid you in finding a treatment plan that works for you, because at Leahys Pharmacy, we really are there to care.

Some of these methods will work on some people, but the severity of the acne may impact on the efficacy of the methods taken, and individual cases have many other contributing factors, which means that it’s different for everyone

Introduction

You might be surprised to find out that our skin is the largest organ in the body, and is essential for protecting our internal organs, bones and all of our muscles! Our skin is sometimes the first thing that people see and it can be a very painful experience growing up having to deal with acne, and the ramifications it can have on a person’s confidence and their opinion of themselves.

Acne is fairly common but can usually show up most commonly on the face, neck, back and shoulders.

Acne normally starts in the adolescent years when a hormone called androgen is produced at a faster rate than during childhood. This hormone stimulates production of an oily substance that sits on the skin called sebum, which after this, mixed with dead skin cells, can block pores and hair follicles and causes pressure to build up in this opening, which causes inflammation, or the “redness” of the acne spots, bacteria from spots which rupture can also exacerbate inflammation, other known causes of acne include:

Genetics- oily skin in the family.
Oil based make-up- can clog the pores.
Certain medications.
Environmental factors & Lifestyle habits

Types of Acne include:

Whiteheads- Small in size and under the skin.
Blackheads- Visible on the surface of the skin, and cannot be scrubbed off by face washing.
Cysts- Very visible and red, painful and full of liquid/pus, can cause scarring.

Before Starting Treatment

The goal is to reduce and prevent breakouts and to minimize the lasting effect of acne scars.
Treatment plans are not a quick fix and can take a considerable amount of time before any results might be seen.
Sticking to the treatment is paramount, as a comparison can be made to before treatment to see if the desired result is happening.
Do not, under any circumstances, pick at or irritate acne, as this can lead to more “flare ups” and inflammation.

Treating Acne

Mild Acne

Over the counter medications could be all that is required, as the ingredients included in these products can reduce inflammation and helps to break down the black/whiteheads underneath the skin. Other advice to be taken on board includes:

Creams usually work better for dry and/or irritated skin.
Gel based products tend to work better for oily skin.
Treatment is best done at night time and will require patience.
It’s important to take the treatment for as long as is prescribed by your doctor or chemist.
A combination of treatments may be needed to work for you, and that is ok, once it works.

Moderate Acne

For moderate acne, the following protocols could be followed:

Try over the counter medication first, and if this doesn’t work, contact your GP.
You may need to take antibiotics or hormone treatment over an extended period of time.
Much like over the counter treatments, you need to take antibiotics/prescribed creams/gels for as long as is needed and specified by your doctor.
Some treatments may have side effects, make sure you talk to your doctor about what possible side effects you may have.

Severe Acne

Severe acne should be dealt with by a doctor, and may require surgery to reduce scarring or prevent scarring from cystic acne.

General tips for Acne

Wash your face every morning and night with mild soap and warm water, do not scrub your face.
Do not burst pimples or bumps on the skin, it can increase irritation.
Let your skin breathe and don’t wear tight sleeves, headbands or caps unless they have been newly cleaned.
Keep your hair clean and off your face as much as possible,
Avoid prolonged exposure to the skin.
If shaving your face, use warm water and use a sharp clean razor to avoid irritation.
Try to avoid stress as much as possible, no matter how hard this seems!
Try to avoid oil based skin products, as they can clog pores.

Acne is a painful experience for a lot of people, but is a completely normal response within the body to certain triggers and is usually effectively treatable very quickly, so make sure to look after your skin, it looks after you!