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Acne

What is Acne?

Acne is a skin condition which involves the oil glands at the base of hair follicles. It most commonly affects young people and over half of all adolescents experience some acne.

It is usually seen on the face, neck, centre of the chest, upper back and shoulders and may involve just a few spots or may be extensive.

Acne is generally seen as a mixture of oily skin, blackheads and whiteheads, red spots and yellow pus-filled pimples.

What Causes Acne?

During the adolescent  years the oil (or sebaceous) glands at the base of hair follicles are stimulated by hormones called androgens. This results in an increased production of oil in the skin. In addition to this the dead skin cells lining the pores tend to build up and clog the follicles. The oil is trapped and produces blackheads and whiteheads. 

In acne the excess oil and blocked follicles encourage the growth of bacteria which cause the lesions to become inflamed and form pus-filled pimples.

How is Acne Treated?

There are several products for treating acne available over the counter in the pharmacy.These are usually effective for mild and moderate acne. They commonly contain an ingredient called benzoyl peroxide and need to be applied daily over a long period. If your acne is severe or does not respond to over the counter treatments you should visit your GP as there are many products available on prescription.

Some simple tips for helping with acne include:

  • Wash the face (or other affected area) daily with an antibacterial facial wash. This helps to degrease the skin and reduce the bacteria on the skin. 

  • If a toner and moisturiser are used after cleansing they should be selected from a range formulated for ‘oily’ and ‘acne prone’ skin.

  • Use a gentle facial scrub about twice a week. This removes the outer layer of dead skin and so helps to reduce the build up of dead skin cells which clog follicles.

  • If make-up is to be worn a water based rather than an oil based foundation should be used and it should be removed with an oil free cleanser at the end of the day.

  • Be diligent in applying treatments, either prescribed or over the counter and persevere - often results are not seen for about 6-8 weeks.