Acne is not a small enemy

Acne is a chronic inflammation of the pilosebaceous unit of the face and upper trunk. This means that in all areas where oil glands exist next to hairy hair, the appearance of red papules, pus bumps and blackheads can occur. This is what is commonly known as “blackheads” and “pimples”.

It is the most frequent disease affecting the skin, since between 80 and 90% of humans suffer from it to a greater or lesser degree, accounting for 25% of visits to the dermatologist. The age of greatest frequency and intensity of acne lesions is between 14 and 16 years of age.

However, lately we are seeing an increase in cases at older ages, especially in women, so that it is not uncommon to find female patients with acne in their forties. Sometimes it is a prolonged adolescent acne, but sometimes it is a late-onset acne.

Why does acne appear?

Acne appears as a result of a series of interlinked events. The first link is formed by male sex hormones, androgens, which induce excessive sebum production. This is followed by an increase in keratin in the pilosebaceous follicle, which hinders the expulsion of sebum and leads to obstruction of the gland’s outflow. In this land of grease and keratin, a bacterium called Propionibacterium acnes is in the best situation to reproduce. As it multiplies, inflammation appears.

In adult women, most cases are caused by a hormonal factor, which configures what is called “androgenization syndrome”. Between 10 and 20% of women are affected by some of the clinical cutaneous signs of androgenization, such as excess oiliness, increased hair growth or hair loss.

Read Now 👉  Mohs surgery, the least invasive technique to remove skin cancer

How is acne treated?

The treatment of acne is aimed at correcting the factors that contribute to its development, that is:

  1. Regulating sebaceous secretion
  2. Avoid follicle obstruction
  3. Decrease the bacterial population.

The amount and intensity of therapeutic measures will be related to the severity of the acne. Acne should be treated as soon as it appears to avoid both temporary discomfort and permanent scarring.