Common acne, known medically as acne vulgaris, occurs most commonly in teenagers and to a lesser extent in young adults. The condition results in part from excessive stimulation of the skin by androgens (male hormones). Bacterial infection of the skin also appears to play a role.
What are the symptoms of acne?
Acne is a skin condition characterized by pimples, which may be closed (sometimes called pustules or “white heads”) or open (blackheads), on the face, neck, chest, back, and shoulders. Most acne is mild, although some people experience inflammation with larger cysts, which may result in scarring.
How is it treated?
Astringent lotions, oil-removing pads, and acne soap are used to keep the skin clean. Topical creams containing salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or tretinoin are often recommended to prevent the formation of pimples and to treat pre-existing cysts. For more severe cases, oral antibiotics such as erythromycin or tetracycline are often prescribed. Women with severe acne are sometimes treated with birth control pills. People with the most severe acne are treated with isotretinoin.
Dietary changes that may be helpful:
Many people assume certain aspects of diet are linked to acne, but there is not much evidence to support this idea. Preliminary research found, for example, that chocolate was not implicated. Similarly, though a diet high in iodine can create an acne-like rash in a few people, this is rarely the cause of acne. In a preliminary study, foods that patients believed triggered their acne failed to cause problems when tested in a clinical setting. Some doctors of natural medicine have observed that food allergy plays a role in some cases of acne, particularly adult acne. However, that observation has not been supported by scientific studies. |
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