Severe acne
By: Mary GoodsTotal Views: 225, Word Count: 668,
Acne is a skin condition where the person with acne outbreak gets whiteheads, blackheads, pimples and pustules. When patients get a sudden breakout of several acne, which are not only ulcerating, but severely scar their faces and skin, this condition is known as severe acne.
What causes severe acne?
Severe acne is caused by the same skin condition which occurs in pimple outbreaks. Here, there is excess production of sebum or oil from sebaceous glands in the hair follicles. When these oils and dead cells clog the pores, this blocked pore is called whitehead. If the pore opening is not covered by skin but gets exposed to air, it oxidizes the sebum, giving it the brown or black color. This is called as a blackhead. Inflammation of the clogged pore with P. acnes results in a pimple or papule. When pus gets accumulated at the tip of the papule it is called a pustule. Generally, mild forms of acne can be treated by topical application of creams.
Types of severe acne
Acne conglobata
This skin condition arises when several pustules, papules and cysts fuse together on the skin. Instead of gradual healing, they flare up and leave deep scars, inflammation and severe blackheads all over the face, neck, backs and chest.
Males of 18-30 years are seen to be affected by this acne condition and many dermatologists believe that one of the causes could be severe hormonal imbalance.
Treatment
- Isotretinoin has been found to be very effective in treating this condition of acne. The most common cream containing this ingredient is Acctuane.
- Regular checkups by a good dermatologist are essential who can provide treatment to even reduce the scarring.
- The entire length of the treatment can be for some years depending on the severity of the problem.
Acne fulminans
Many-a-times treatment of Acne conglobata is a failure. Then, it is found that there is a sudden outbreak of acne that leads to a much sever inflammation of the present cysts and nodules. This is acne fulminans.
- Patients get severely inflamed and ulcerated acne outbreaks along with fever.
- There is inflammation of joints in hips and knees as a result of this condition.
Treatment Patients may be given non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication to reduce the associated pain and swelling. They may need to take up medication of isotretinoin for a longer period of time to solve this problem.
Nodulocystic acne
In this form of acne outbreak, people end up getting cysts whose sizes are quite big (several centimeters in diameter). They are filled with yellowish pus and should not be opened by ourselves without the guidance of a doctor.
These nodules and cysts sometimes coalesce and give way to acne conglobata.
Treatment
Treating nodulocystic acne involves a complete medication with isotretinoins and a course of antibiotics which need to be taken for a long period of time. Some inflamed cysts may need to be surgically removed by the doctor.
Gram-negative folliculitis
In some severe cases of acne such as in acne conglobata, acne fuminans, it is seen that as a result of excess use of antibiotics, some skin bacteria become resistant to them. They would then inflame the acne. These bacteria generally do not pick up the stain blue and are referred to as “Gram negative”. They also cause severe form of acne, with lesions which are inflamed and ulcerating.
As is being discussed above, treatment of severe forms of acne require a thorough course of antibiotics, isotretinoins, corticosteroids and may take a long time to actually clear up the skin. Patients need counseling and moral support to face the emotional crisis which they face as a result of the deep scarification involved.
About the Author
Mary Goods is a researcher in skin problems and their treatments. She is currently involved in the study of acne, their causes and how to effectively treat them. She is also involved in publishing a series of papers dealing with the effect of acne and pimple scars on the behavior of teenagers. She recommends topical application of skin creams to get rid of acne, blemishes and even whiteheads and black heads.
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