What is Acne?

Acne, common acne or acne vulgaris is a condition that affects the hair follicles present in the skin. It mostly seen in the face, back and the chest area and is very common among the teenagers who are going through puberty. Some women develop the condition in their 20s and it mostly occurs just before their menstrual periods.

Causes

There is no one cause of acne. The production of male hormones in the body during puberty stimulates the sebaceous glands which are attached with the hair follicles. The glands in turn produce sebum or in other words, a natural oil that helps protect and lubricate the skin. But an over production on sebum tends to clog the follicular pore. The clog may get infected to produce pustules, pimples or cysts depending on the depth if the infection.

Symptoms

Most people think of acne just as pimples but they can also present themselves in other forms.
• Whiteheads
• Blackheads
• Cysts
• Papules
• Cysts
• Nodules
• Acne can cause dark spots on the skin that may take months to dissappear.
• Acne can also cause permanent scaring

Treatment

• Try an acne cream that has benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.
• Consult your doctor if the acne cream does not help.
• Skin treatments like laser resurfacing or dermabrasion may help.

Prevention

There may be not much that you can do to prevent the occurrence of acne but you can try the following to keep them from worsening.

• Wash your skin regularly and try not to over do it.
• Keep your hair clean and try to keep your hair away from your face.
• Wash off your sweat and avoid activities that cause heavy sweating.
• Do not touch your face too often.
• Avoid contact with harsh chemicals and oils.

What You Can Expect When You Visit Our Clinics

1. Stop by our front desk to visit a certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. No appointment is required.
2. Your medical practitioner will examine your medical background, go over your medical issues, perform an examination and supply you with an individualized plan for treatment. This might consist of non-prescription items or a medical prescription.
3. Towards the end of your visit to our clinic, your medical attendant will give you an overview, an invoice and some instructional material may be given.
4. The overview of your clinic visit can be forwarded to your primary health care provider with your authorization.