1.What is “acne”?
Acne (acne vulgaris), commonly known as “pimples”, acne, acne, is a chronic inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands of the hair follicles, with a certain degree of cosmetic damage. Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands and is cosmetically disfiguring. It occurs on fatty areas, cheeks, and chest and back, and is characterized by acne, papules, pustules, nodules, cysts, etc. It is most common in young men and women aged 15 to 30.
2.Why do you get acne?
The onset of acne is mainly related to androgens, sebum secretion, keratinization of the hair follicle ductal opening and microorganisms in the hair follicle, and also related to genetics and immunity. In addition, diet, gastrointestinal function, environmental factors, cosmetics, emotions and mental factors can trigger and aggravate the occurrence of acne.
3.Does acne run in families?
Research shows that acne has a genetic background, especially children with a history of acne in one or both parents, whose likelihood of developing acne during adolescence will increase. However, acne can be triggered by many factors, and even children with no history of acne in either parent may still have the possibility of acne.
4. What factors can trigger or aggravate acne?
(1) Sleeping too late, insomnia, staying up late, excessive stress, emotional anxiety, nervousness and irritability.
(2) Too much sugar, dairy products, starch, fried food, fat, spicy food.
(3) Poor gastrointestinal digestion, constipation.
(4) Not having good skin care habits, not washing and cleaning the face or cosmetics are not thoroughly cleared, causing pore blockage. Or over-cleaning, washing the face 3-5 times a day, resulting in lack of oil and water in the skin, instead inducing overproduction of sebaceous glands.
(5) Self-clearing acne with acne needles or squeezing acne, causing pore infection, dermal inflammation and scarring.
(6) Frequent exposure to air conditioning, which stimulates the imbalance of sebaceous secretion due to the large temperature difference between indoor and outdoor areas, can easily cause an increase in acne.
(7) Working in places with more dust or grease (such as gas stations and kitchens), the dust particles in the air will clog pores.
5.How is acne formed?
Acne occurs on the basis of endocrine secretion. Under the action of many factors such as excessive sebum secretion, follicular sebaceous duct obstruction, bacterial infection and inflammatory reaction, chronic non-specific inflammation occurs in the units of the follicular sebaceous glands, resulting in a variety of clinical manifestations such as acne, papules, pustules, nodules, cysts and even scarring on the patient’s face and chest and back.
6.What are the clinical manifestations of acne?
The non-inflammatory lesions of acne manifest as open and closed pimples. Closed acne is known as whiteheads, and open acne is known as blackheads. Further development of acne can lead to various inflammatory lesions, such as inflammatory papules, pustules, nodules and cysts. After the inflammatory lesions subside, they often leave behind hyperpigmentation, persistent erythema, and depressed or hypertrophic scarring.
7.What are the effects of acne on patients?
(1) Impact on aesthetics – cosmetic problems can be solved with timely treatment and are a relatively short-term problem.
(2) Scar formation – Scars are a serious consequence of acne and can cause lifelong regret for patients. Preventing scar formation is also the primary goal of acne treatment, and patients are advised to seek medical attention in a timely manner, especially for acne patients with severe conditions accompanied by nodules, cysts or larger inflammation. This is because, once a scar is formed, it is difficult to cure.
(3) Psychological impact – The psychological impact of acne on patients is a problem that cannot be ignored, and some can have serious consequences. Therefore, patients should maintain a good mental state and a positive attitude toward life. Excessive tension will instead aggravate the condition. Currently, acne treatment methods have matured, and any type of acne can achieve ideal results through reasonable treatment. Therefore, acne patients do not need to be overly nervous.
8. Is acne contagious?
Acne is not contagious. Acne is mainly due to endocrine disorders and excessive secretion of oil from the sebaceous glands causing pores to become clogged and Propionibacterium acnes to multiply under hypoxia leading to inflammation, turning into pustules and nodules.
Since the acne-causing P. acnes bacteria are anaerobic and cannot survive on the surface of the skin, they are not contagious no matter how big or serious the acne is, so if there are serious acne patients at home or in public dormitories, they will not be contagious to others by sharing towels, bath towels, or basins. The practice of treating acne sufferers as “sources of infection” and looking at them with a different or even disgusting look is not right.
9. Can acne be cured?
Acne has a complex etiology and pathogenesis, and usually develops during adolescence. Although individual cases can last into the 40s or even the 50s, most slowly subside after the age of 20. Since the basis of acne pathogenesis is endocrine factors during growth and development, it is impossible to cure acne in the short term. However, with the development of medicine and the emergence of new acne-specific drugs and therapies, acne treatment methods have now matured, and appropriate treatment plans can provide long-term relief for most patients with acne.
10.How long does acne treatment usually take?
Patients must recognize that acne treatment is a long-term process, whether topical or systemic, and that a course of acne treatment takes at least one month or longer.
11.What are the current treatments for acne?
There is a wide variety of acne treatment methods, including a wide range of topical topical therapies, systemic therapies such as the application of antibiotics, retinoids, hormones, Chinese herbal medicine, and a variety of physical therapies such as photodynamic, fruit acids, intense pulsed light (photorejuvenation), fractional laser, and acne exclusion.
(1) Topical topical medications Vitamin A acid class (Vitamin A acid cream, adapalene gel, tazarotene gel), benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics (clindamycin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, etc.), azelaic acid, sulfur lotion, etc.
(2) Oral antibiotics Tetracyclines (minocycline, doxycycline, etc.) or macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin, etc.).
(3) Oral isotretinoin For severe acne, oral isotretinoin is the standard treatment and is currently the most effective treatment for acne, usually in a course of 3 to 4 months.
(4) Anti-androgen therapy Such as oral contraceptive compound cyproterone acetate tablets (trade name Daying-35) for women with moderate or severe acne with manifestations of excessive androgen levels (such as hirsutism, seborrhea, etc.) or polycystic ovary syndrome. The application of oral contraceptives can also be considered for female patients with late-onset acne and pre-menstrual acne that is significantly aggravated.
(5) Oral glucocorticoids are mainly used for violent or coalescent acne.
(6) Others For patients who cannot tolerate or do not want to accept medication, physical therapy, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), fruit acid therapy, laser therapy, etc., can also be considered.
12.Can acne be treated without medication?
For patients who cannot tolerate or do not want to accept medication, physical therapy can be used.
(1) Red and blue light irradiation therapy, together with the cold spray introduction technology of Chinese medicine mask, can sterilize and reduce inflammation, which is effective for mild to moderate acne.
(2) Fruit acid resurfacing therapy, whose follicle opening eliminates oil plugs in the pores for the purpose of treating acne, and strict sun protection after treatment to avoid hyperpigmentation.
(4) Photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT): topical photosensitizer followed by red light irradiation can shrink sebaceous glands and kill Propionibacterium acnes, which is a good choice for treating moderate to severe acne. Strict sun protection is required after treatment, otherwise it will aggravate hyperpigmentation.
13.What are the common bad habits and misconceptions of acne patients?
(1) Squeezing acne with hands. Squeezing acne will increase the chance of scarring and may lead to the spread of infected lesions. Squeezing acne lesions in the dangerous triangle of the human face may even induce life-threatening intracranial infections.
(2) Buy random medication to treat yourself. There are more topical medications on the market to treat acne, and the performance and treatment of acne is complex. Inappropriate choices may instead aggravate the condition and cause serious consequences.
(3) Excessive pursuit of curative effects and high expectations. Acne treatment is a slow process. Patients should adhere to treatment according to the course of treatment under the guidance of a skin specialist.
14.Do acne patients need sun protection?
Acne is a skin disease aggravated by light, so sun protection is also needed on a daily basis. Use physical and chemical sunscreens with SPF>30 and PA+++, and generally choose sunscreen sprays or sunscreen lotions.
15.What should I pay attention to in my life and diet after acne?
(1) Avoid emotional anxiety and tension, maintain an optimistic and happy mood, and recognize that this is a temporary physiological phenomenon.
(2) Have regular rest and rest, ensure sleep time and quality, avoid overwork.
(3) Keep your skin clean, wash your face with warm water and neutral soap for 3 to 4 times, not too many times, and do not use cosmetics with more oil and irritation to avoid further filling of hair follicles and aggravation of acne.
(4) Do not use facial cleansers containing scrubbing particles, and do not go to beauty salons for massage or skin desquamation.
(5) When washing your face, you can gently rub your skin with a towel to let the accumulated sebum out of your skin, but you should never squeeze, pinch, or dig acne with your hands, as this is prone to infection and the formation of pustules and scarring.
(6) Eat more vegetables and fruits, less sweets and greasy food, less stimulating food such as ginger, garlic and chili, less stimulating drinks such as strong tea and coffee, avoid drinking alcohol, and keep your bowels clear.
(7) Actively treat chronic diseases, such as constipation, chronic gastrointestinal disease, indigestion, menstrual disorders, etc.
16.What about the acne marks left after acne?
How to do with acne marks on the face, first look at the classification of acne marks. The first two types of pimple marks generally include black pimple marks, red pimple marks, concave pimple marks and hyperplastic convex scars. The first two are lighter, leaving a black color or red spot in the original place of acne, which is a temporary acne mark, will gradually recede within six months, and the last is a proliferative scar, the opposite of a cavernous acne mark, is the formation of an obvious red protrusion, which occurs in the special body of people, this kind of acne mark must use medical methods.
17.What about acne pits and scars left after acne?
Scarring can be treated at a later age when acne symptoms are basically controlled. Atrophic scars (so-called “acne pits”) can be treated with laser resurfacing using an erbium laser or an ultra-pulsed carbon dioxide laser, which stimulates collagen renewal and remodeling. Hyperplastic scars can be treated with hormone injections.
18.What are the methods to treat acne pits?
(1) Fruit acid peeling: It has good effect on shallow pockmarks and can also improve enlarged pores, but it takes several sessions to eliminate acne scars, with the advantage of safety and small side effects.
(2) Filling method: For deeper hollows, implants (e.g. collagen) can be injected to make the hollow part elevated, thus keeping it flat with the surrounding skin tissue.
(The actual skin is usually a lot more than just a few days.
19.What about hyperplastic acne scars left after acne?
Hyperplastic acne scars are usually determined by congenital constitution and are the most difficult to treat and easy to recur. This type of scar is manifested as a distinct red protrusion with a red and swollen appearance left in the place where the acne has been grown, and worse, it will slowly grow due to scratching or external stimulation. This is no longer a problem that can be solved by skin care products and medical treatments must be used. Treatment methods are.
(1) Local subcutaneous injection: The drug injection is directly injected into the subcutaneous of acne scars for treatment, and the composition of this drug is mainly steroid, which can resist inflammation and dissolve off the inflamed tissue, this is the simplest and most effective treatment for hyperplastic convex scars at present. After several injections, the acne scars will gradually soften and flatten, but the pigmentation of the scar tissue will still not fade away, so there will still be some traces after healing, and the normal skin appearance cannot be fully restored.
(2) Light therapy such as laser has a certain smoothing effect on hyperplastic scars.
20.Is aloe vera gel effective for acne or pimple marks?
Aloe vera has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, enhances skin elasticity, protects skin mucosa, and prevents acne. The skin permeability of aloe vera gel is very strong and contains rich vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids and polysaccharides, which are effective for acne and pimple marks. However, it should not be used during the period of inflammation and breakout of skin lesions, and it should not be used for those who are allergic to aloe vera.
21.What are the precautions for acne patients with skin care products?
(1) Patients often use skin care products with concealing effects, which are more likely to cause clogging of pores and aggravate the disease, therefore, acne patients should not use makeup skin care products and concealing powder.
(2) Sun exposure may aggravate acne, sun protection is necessary, but it is advisable to use a refreshing sunscreen.
(3) Patients with acne who have more oily skin can use oil-control skin care products, and if the skin is dry, moisturizing skin care products with less oil content can be used.
22.Why does acne worsen in women before menstruation?
(1) Estrogen imbalance: During the period before menstruation, the androgen content or the ratio of androgens to estrogen is relatively high, resulting in a corresponding increase in sebaceous gland activity, which can easily lead to an increase in acne. It has also been found that the lipid composition of the skin surface before menstruation is significantly different from other periods, the follicle sebaceous gland ducts are smallest before menstruation, sebum secretion is easily blocked, thus leading to the aggravation of acne before menstruation.
(2) mental anxiety: some patients have premenstrual tension, anxiety and irritability and insomnia, may also be one of the causes of triggering or aggravating acne.
23.What is the relationship between acne and polycystic ovary syndrome?
”Youthful beautiful pimples” is often taken as a sign of eternal youth by some people with pimples on their faces, but in fact it is likely to be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome. The most important thing is that you should be able to get the most out of your time.
Then it is possible that you have polycystic ovary syndrome. At this time, hormone measurement and ultrasound examination are needed to make a clear diagnosis. Polycystic ovary syndrome often affects young girls, but there is nothing to fear when you have this disease. When suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome, symptoms can be relieved and improved by timely treatment at a regular hospital, taking the right medication, and by paying attention to weight loss, weight reduction, physical exercise and proper diet control in life.