Acne Specialist

What is acne?

Acne is a common skin condition that develops when the hair follicles become clogged with dead skin cells, leading to inflammatory bumps. While acne most often affects the face, it can also develop on the chest, back, and shoulders. Though many people believe that acne primarily affects teenagers, you can continue experiencing this skin problem well into your 30s, 40s, and 50s.

Why does acne occur?

Each hair follicle in your skin connects to sebaceous oil glands, which make an oily substance called sebum. The sebaceous glands deposit sebum onto the skin’s surface through an opening in the hair follicle called a pore. 

The skin cells that make up the lining of the hair follicle, called keratinocytes, also shed through the pores.

Sometimes sebum, keratinocytes, and hair stick together inside the follicle and clog the pore, preventing your skin cells from shedding properly. As a result, bacteria can infiltrate the pore and cause inflammation, redness, and pain that develops into acne.

What are the different types of acne?

The type of acne you have can dictate the right treatment for you. The most common types of acne are:

Papules

Papules are small, red bumps that may feel tender to the touch, but they typically don’t cause intense pain.

Pustules

Pustules are papules that contain a small white or yellow head on top of the lesion. They are typically more painful than papules.

Blackheads

A blackhead is a clogged hair follicle that reaches the surface of the skin and remains open in the pore, causing a black or brown appearance.

Whiteheads

A whitehead is similar to a blackhead, but instead of remaining open, the lesion stays beneath the skin and creates a small, white bump.

Nodules

Nodules are extremely painful lesions that develop deep beneath the skin. They feel like large, hard lumps that have no head. Nodules often take weeks, if not months, to subside.

Cysts

The most severe forms of acne, cysts are pus-filled nodules that can cause extreme pain and discomfort.

What causes acne?

A buildup of oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria causes acne. Contrary to popular belief, eating sugar and junk food doesn’t directly cause acne, though a poor diet is among certain factors that can worsen existing acne.

Other risk factors for acne include:

• Hormonal changes
• Certain medications
• Age (being a teenager)
• A family history of acne
• Stress
• Touching your face too much
• Pollutants
• Certain chemicals

Forgetting to wash your face or using a harsh exfoliant can also irritate the skin and trigger an acne flare-up.

What are the treatments for acne?

Dr. Durchhalter offers the latest treatments for acne, including:

• Medication (Accutane®, oral antibiotics, Retin-A®, etc)
• Topical ointments (salicylic acid, clindamycin, etc.)
• Chemical peels to remove the top layer of your skin
• Hormonal birth control
• Lifestyle modifications

To learn more about acne, call Allure Dermatology, or schedule an appointment online today.