Acne Treatment
What Causes Acne? Acne occurs when your hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin. It’s often associated with the hormonal shifts that come with adolescence and puberty, but can appear during other stages of life. Your sensitivity to acne could also be genetic. In addition to being uncomfortable, acne can have an unfortunate social stigma.
- Common causes: Clogged follicles, excess oil, bacteria, hormonal changes, and genetics
- Common symptoms: Whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, or occasional cysts
- What may help: Consistent gentle cleansing and appropriate topical treatments
- Seek medical care if: Acne is severe, painful, scarring, or not responding to over-the-counter care
What Causes Acne?
Acne occurs when your hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin. It’s often associated with the hormonal shifts that come with adolescence and puberty, but can appear during other stages of life. Your sensitivity to acne could also be genetic. In addition to being uncomfortable, acne can have an unfortunate social stigma. Some people with acne have reported that their quality of life has been affected. Some report feeling low self-esteem and social anxiety, interfering with their ability to live each day to the fullest. You are not your acne. There are many acne treatment options available to help cover up and moisturize dry skin that may be caused by acne.Identifying Types of Acne and Treatment
The most common form of acne can develop into bumps called whiteheads and blackheads. However, more severe cases of acne can appear in other forms. Use the slider below to learn more about the types of acne, their severity and treatment.Mild and Most Common
Symptoms
Whiteheads, white bulbous bumps, and/or blackheads, darkened oil in an open pore, appear on the surface of your skin.
Treatment:
Mild acne can be treated and managed with proper skincare techniques. Use gentle soaps and moisturizers. Rezamid Acne Lotion by Summers Labs can help heal, prevent, and conceal mild acne.
Rezamid Acne Lotion
A dermatologist-recommended medicated lotion formulated to help address acne blemishes on acne-prone skin.
- Acne-prone skin
- Occasional blemishes
- Oily complexion routines
- Spot-treatment steps
Product suitability depends on the cause of your symptoms. Consult a healthcare professional when symptoms are persistent, painful, or unexplained.
Moderate to Severe
Symptoms
Papules, which are small, irritated, reddish bumps on the surface of your skin, and pustules, which look like whiteheads with red irritation around them, are moderate to severe forms of acne. Both of which become more troublesome if you pick or squeeze them. So hands off!
Treatment:
Moderate cases of acne can be treated in the same manner as milder forms, but with more diligence. Medicated makeup like Liquimat Medium can also be used in order to help heal while also concealing the flare-ups.
More Severe
Symptoms
More severe forms of acne, like nodules, which are firm and inflamed bumps, or cystic acne, which are large and pus-filled bumps, are painful and a tougher to eradicate with over-the-counter medications.
Treatment:
For more severe types of acne that do not respond to over-the-counter medications, you should seek the help of a dermatologist for professional treatment. Ask your dermatologist for details.
Acne Symptoms
Most often, acne symptoms will vary depending on the severity of the condition. These symptoms include:- Whiteheads (closed plugged pores)
- Blackheads (open plugged pores)
- Small red, tender bumps (papules)
- Large, solid, painful lumps under the skin (referred to as nodules)
- Painful, pus-filled lumps under the skin (referred to as cystic lesions)
- Pimples (pustules), which are papules with pus at their tips
Acne Treatment Options
There are various methods of treating acne. There are many common over-the-counter (nonprescription) acne products that can be used to lessen and treat the effects of acne. If over-the-counter products don’t work, you can ask a dermatologist for stronger medications. Typically, your dermatologist can help:- Control your acne
- Avoid scarring or other damage to your skin
- Make scars less noticeable
Preventing Acne
While your acne treatments are very important, it is just as important to keep your skin healthy and clean. Here are a few suggestions towards making that happen: Keep your face clean Whether you have acne or not, it’s important to wash your face twice a day in order to remove excess dirt, dry skin, and oils that can clog your pores – and promote breakouts. Use makeup sparingly. During a breakout, avoid wearing foundation, powder, or blush. Relax. Some studies link stress with the severity of your acne. Getting in the habit of mindfulness and self-reflection can help reduce the presence of acne. If it’s the stress of acne that’s increasing its severity, let us help you with that. Moisturize. Moisturize your skin frequently. Use products that are “non-comedogenic” (meaning they should not cause acne). Do NOT touch your face. Avoid touching your face. Your hands can have bacteria that can be easily spread to your face, which can cause a breakout. In all cases, avoid picking at current acne on your face. This can irritate the already inflamed facial skin.Support a Cleaner, Clearer Routine
Consistent, dermatologist-recommended options can help support your daily routine for acne-prone skin.
Shop RezamidExplore Acne SolutionsWhen to See a Healthcare Professional
Consider speaking with a healthcare professional when:
- Symptoms are severe or worsening
- The skin is bleeding or very painful
- There are signs of infection
- The problem keeps returning
- Home care is not helping
- You are unsure what is causing the symptoms
- You have diabetes, poor circulation, or another condition that may affect healing
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes acne?
Acne generally involves clogged hair follicles, excess oil, bacteria, and inflammation. Hormonal shifts, genetics, and some medications can also play a role. It affects people of many ages, not just teenagers.
What can I do about acne at home?
Consistent, gentle cleansing and appropriate over-the-counter topical treatments are common starting points. Picking or squeezing can worsen inflammation and lead to scarring.
When should I see a doctor about acne?
Consider speaking with a healthcare professional if your acne is severe, painful, scarring, or not responding to over-the-counter care.
Related Reading
- How Long Do Pimples Last?
- Neck Pimples: Causes, Symptoms & Home Remedies
- Why Do Pimples Hurt? Causes & Pain Relief Methods
- Sweat Pimples: Causes, Symptoms & Medical Treatments
- Acne Vs Pimples: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
Medical disclaimer: This article is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional regarding symptoms, diagnoses, or treatment decisions.
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