Acne is a manifestation of acne - the skin rashes themselves, as a rule, do not reflect the completeness of the entire clinical picture of the disease.
Approximately 3% of men and 5% of women aged 40-50 suffer from acne. The disease can also occur at older ages.
There are different types of acne in adults: late or adult acne, globular, acne acne or seborrheic, inverse, facial pyodermatitis, medicinal, and also caused by mechanical factors.
Depending on the type of acne and the stage of the disease, the treatment method is determined.
Science also distinguishes several types of acne depending on its occurrence:
- endogenous acne occurs from internal causes;
- exogenous due to external.
Symptoms
Acne can appear in any area of the face:
- a rash around the mouth indicates problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
- in the area of the cheeks and cheekbones – problems with the gallbladder;
- acne on the chin - a woman has a gynecological problem;
- A rash near the ears indicates a weak immune system.
Acne on the body - why it appears
Since acne appears in places where there are most sebaceous glands, parts of the body with a large content of them are often exposed to the inflammatory process. Such places on the human body are the back and shoulders.
Most often, acne on the body begins to appear as a result of factors that irritate the skin or as an allergic reaction when using cosmetics.
Small pimples can appear with frequent wearing of clothes made of synthetic fabrics, in combination with excessive sweating, or with poor personal hygiene.
Large acne with a dense structure may mean that a person eats a lot of foods with a high fat content.
Common causes of external acne on the body include:
- wear of artificial materials;
- allergic reaction;
- poor nutrition;
- stress;
- tight-fitting clothing;
- lack of vitamins;
- frequent use of skin cleansing procedures;
- long exposure to sunlight.
Acne can also be a sign of internal diseases. One of the reasons leading to acne is improper functioning of the endocrine system. Also, skin problems can begin due to impaired functionality of the urinary system, neurological disorders or genetic pathologies.
Stages
Treatment of acne depends on the stage of the disease.
There are 3 degrees of acne severity:
Lightweight
Closed and open acne are scattered over the skin of the face without signs of inflammation and there are less than 10 acne elements on the face.
Average
10-40 acne elements.
Heavy
On the skin of the face more than 40 acne elements, which are usually inflamed and contain purulent contents.
Causes of the rash
Acne occurs due to mechanical blockage of the follicles due to pressure or friction: tight headgear or a cast can trigger their appearance.
Toxic or occupational acne occurs due to skin contact with chemical compounds (tar, chlorine, grease) that clog pores and, as a result, cause acne.
Cosmetic acne appears as a result of excessive use of face creams.
Comedones can also form from the action of aggressive detergents or from exposure to a warm, humid climate.
Basic
When acne occurs at any age, hereditary predisposition . However, there are certain factors that provoke the development of acne.
Excessive sebum production
This is one of the manifestations of seborrhea. The secretion secreted by the glands does not have bactericidal properties, so bacteria in it begin to actively multiply, creating a favorable environment for inflammation and the occurrence of acne.
Follicular hyperkeratosis
Blackhead acne, which also poses an aesthetic problem for adult patients.
The occurrence of acne is accompanied by increased keratinization of epithelial cells, which occurs in the sockets of the hair follicles. This is where the excretory ducts of the sebaceous gland open.
Normally, this process takes place at a moderate pace; the horny scales have time to stand out along with sebum.
With hyperkaratosis, the secretion of the sebaceous glands accumulates in the follicle, which leads to blockage of the pore, causing the appearance of blackheads.
As sebum subsequently accumulates, the clogged follicle expands and closed comedones appear. The subsequent process causes the pore to widen, resulting in the appearance of noticeable closed blackheads. Sebum has a dense structure and is poorly removed due to the accumulation of horny scales.
The black color of the secretion is formed by the high content of melanin in it.
Reproduction of microorganisms
When the pores are clogged, favorable conditions are created for the proliferation of staphylococcus, clostridia, mycobacteria, demodex mites, etc.
Inflammatory process - the propionic acne bacterium Propionibacterium plays an important role in its development. Its reproduction and release of waste products irritate tissues and can cause a local inflammatory reaction.
The process can affect the superficial and deep layers of the skin, resulting in a variety of forms and symptoms of the disease.
In men
Globular, clustered or seborrheic acne - occurs mainly in men suffering from thick seborrhea. They manifest themselves as numerous nodular cystic acne and large comedones, which are located not necessarily in areas of seborrhea, but also on disease-free facial skin. They heal difficultly, with the formation of keloid scars. Such acne occurs at a young age and persists up to 40 years or more.
Among women
Late acne occurs more often in women and is a good reason to visit a gynecologist. In 20% of adult women, acne appears a few days before the start of menstruation and disappears without any effort with the start of a new menstrual cycle. Acne may appear when hormonal contraceptives are discontinued, in the first trimester of pregnancy, or during menopause. However, papular, papulopustular, nodular cystic acne can be constantly present on the face. In this case, their appearance can be provoked by polycystic ovary syndrome, hirsutism, and anovulatory menstrual cycle. During the examination, it is necessary to exclude tumors of the ovaries and adrenal glands.
A common cause of acne is constant stress, which affects the pituitary and adrenal glands. This can result in excess production of hormones, which leads to the appearance of pimples, most often localized on the chin. Moreover, if a woman is used to scratching her rashes, then this irritation will only intensify, and as a result, pigment spots may appear on her face, and there are also risks of developing secondary infections. It is necessary to wean yourself from scratching.
Cosmetics, although rare, in some cases can also cause acne. Some hairsprays, moisturizers, and conditioners are strong sources of problems. Most of these products contain the main causative agent of such troubles - isopropyl myristate and its derivatives, which are commonly called comedogenic substances. The same rashes on the forehead can appear when using comedogenic shampoo.
Bodybuilding acne
Bodybuilding acne occurs when taking androgens and anabolic steroids. As a result of taking these substances, hyperandrogenism develops and causes increased sebum secretion. This effect may occur after long-term use of glucocorticoids. Typically, anabolic steroids are taken along with vitamin cocktails, which cause nodular cystic acne. When this form of acne appears, patients should be examined for the presence of endocrine disorders.
Acne and pimples: what are the differences?
Pimples are an inflammatory area on the skin accompanied by reddish colored bumps. They mainly appear as a result of infection in the sebaceous glands.
Acne is also called an inflammatory process in the sebaceous glands, but at the initial stage.
Black dots appear first. Then, in the absence of proper treatment, inflammatory processes begin on the skin, which lead to the formation of acne.
Treatment of acne in adults
To cure acne in adults, you should find out the cause of its occurrence - you need to consult a gynecologist and endocrinologist, you will have to take a blood test to check the levels of thyroid hormones and sex hormones, and it would be useful to do an ultrasound of the thyroid gland.
If acne is caused by hormonal imbalance, then hormonal medications . In this case, tests will have to be taken several times to monitor the dynamics of therapy.
If it turns out that acne is caused by a malfunction of the intestines or other digestive organs, then additional examination by a gastroenterologist will be required. In this case, antibiotics and bifid drugs , which will restore the disturbed intestinal microflora.
The choice of treatment option depends not only on the causes, but also on the severity of the disease.
- For mild cases, local external preparations are used: creams, gels, lotions, ointments, etc., which contain various active substances that prevent the formation of comedones, destroy them, reduce the amount of sebum and reduce inflammation. These can be benzoyl peroxide (OXY5, OXY10), azelaic acid (Skinoren), tretinoin (Airol Roche, Retin-A).
- For the treatment of moderate and severe forms, treatment can be carried out both by external means and by taking drugs orally. Antibiotics or hormones are often prescribed.
- To mechanically clean the skin, peeling is carried out - the surface layers of the dermis are removed using weak acid solutions (so-called chemical peeling) or mechanical grinding (so-called dermabrasion). Facial cleansing, pinch massage, superficial cryotherapy, and sometimes laser therapy for individual acne are also used.
Acne cannot be treated surgically. Opening cavities is contraindicated, as it can lead to scar formation. In case of severe suppuration, injecting the lesions with medications will be effective.
The prescribed treatment for acne should be comprehensive. The course of treatment should include antibacterial agents, drugs to regulate the functioning of the sebaceous glands, antiandrogenic drugs, antibiotics, vitamins, and microelements. In severe cases, immunocorrective medications are prescribed. Ultrasound and physiotherapeutic procedures will also be useful in the treatment of acne. The course of treatment lasts 2-3 months, then maintenance therapy is indicated for another 2-3 months.
Cleansers
Treatment of acne in adults presents some difficulties. The vast majority of acne treatments are designed to treat the oily skin of teenagers and are completely unsuitable for the drier skin of adults. Therefore, effective treatment is selected by trial and error, and this takes some time.
Adults should not get carried away with strong cleansing gels or other granular products that have an abrasive effect. These cleansers can cause irritation and worsen the condition for sensitive skin. Some gentle acne treatments include Cetaphil and Aquanil.
Creams and lotions
An over-the-counter product containing retinol is very helpful for adults - retinol cleanses pores while helping to smooth out fine wrinkles. To prevent acne from causing discoloration of the skin, as well as to prevent the formation of acne scars, it is better to use products that contain salicylic and glycolic acids. If spot treatment of rashes is required, products containing an effective bactericidal agent - benzoyl peroxide - are ideal.
Prescription drugs
Prescription drugs include drugs containing antibiotics.
- For example, clindamycin, an antibiotic for external use, successfully helps fight bacteria. It is worth noting a similar drug, erythromycin, which contains benzoyl peroxide and an antimicrobial agent.
- Topical preparations with retinol and clindamycin will help.
- Tetracycline, another popular antibiotic for internal use, also helps. This also includes other antibiotics of the tetracycline group: doxycycline, minocycline.
- Oral contraceptives (Flutamide, Spironolactone) will help normalize hormone levels. The gel, which contains the antibiotic dapsone, will also help fight inflammation and infection in acne.
- Isotretinoin in small doses will help clear the skin even in 60-year-old patients.
Some of the above drugs can cause fetal malformations, so women of childbearing age planning pregnancy should use contraceptives a month before and after completing the course of therapy. If therapy is ineffective within 6-8 weeks, you should contact a dermatologist to change the drug. In the most severe cases, corticosteroid injections are prescribed.
Over-the-counter products
Over-the-counter medications for adult acne sufferers include:
- Containing sulfacetamide and sulfur;
- Retinoids - derivatives of vitamin A - are good for treating the first stage of acne;
- Makeup bases and moisturizers that contain salicylic acid.
Hardware
Laser treatments are primarily aimed at eliminating scars, but blue light phototherapy also kills bacteria.
Proper nutrition
How to deal with acne besides medications? If the inflammatory process does not occur at an advanced stage, but at the initial stage, it is important to adjust the daily diet, which is not the least important in curing the pathology. The basis for treating acne with nutrition is the principles that are followed during the development of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
In this case, we get rid of the rash like this:
- We consume only high-quality and natural products;
- We eat small meals;
- limit the intake of food that is too hot or too cold;
- exclude the consumption of fatty, spicy and smoked foods, soda, and confectionery;
- add foods such as cereals, fruits, vegetables and fish to the diet;
- limit salt intake.
Women and men with acne on the face should avoid consuming alcoholic beverages, mayonnaise, ketchup, fried potatoes, coffee and strong tea, and cholesterol products. Such food helps to increase sebum production and the occurrence of the inflammatory process.
Treatment of acne on the face in adults by following a proper diet consists of consuming citrus fruits, apples, cherries, pears, cabbage, carrots, beets, eggplant, and pumpkin. In the treatment of rashes, it is necessary to adhere to a dairy diet. In particular, the consumption of kefir is beneficial, as it ensures the normalization of the gastrointestinal tract. It is recommended to take this product daily, especially if you have acne on your face. Yogurt and fermented baked milk, as well as cottage cheese, which contains calcium and other minerals, are considered no less useful.
Consumption of cereals is also aimed at combating acne on the face. This includes oatmeal, barley, buckwheat, rice, millet and wheat porridge, which must be present in the diet. Thanks to them, the activity of the gastrointestinal tract is normalized and toxins are adsorbed.
Treatment of facial acne in adults by maintaining proper nutrition should include the consumption of fish, which is considered a highly digestible animal protein with a minimum amount of fat and a sufficient content of nutrients such as phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. It is the last trace element that is involved in regulating the functions of the sebaceous glands. Vitamins also have a good effect on the condition of the skin of the face:
- Vitamin A or retinol. Participates in skin restoration, elimination of burns and inflammatory processes. Pharmaceutical preparations containing this microelement are recommended to be taken in the morning before meals. The course of acne treatment is up to 3 months.
- Vitamins from group B. Help eliminate excessive dry skin. It is recommended to take such products in the morning and evening for 3 months.
- Vitamin C is a universal remedy that helps in skin restoration. Take the vitamin after meals in the morning and evening. The course of treatment is determined by the attending physician.
- Vitamin E. Participates in the normalization of hormonal levels, disturbances of which can cause acne. Experts recommend taking vitamin-based products 3 times a day, 2 tablets. The course of admission is 2 weeks.
Diet
Diet is a very effective method for treating acne. What dishes will you have to part with on your table:
- First of all, you will have to say no to sweets (except honey) and fast food. Harmful cholesterol can enter the body with hot herbs, spices, ketchup, sauces, mayonnaise, fatty meats and smoked meats, french fries and simply fried potatoes.
- Secondly, coffee lovers will have to part with their favorite products. Coffee stimulates the body's production of the stress hormone cortisol. And elevated cortisol levels are the most common cause of acne breakouts.
- Lovers of dairy products, meat, and nuts will have to part with most dishes - the cause of acne in this case is associated with the high content of proteins in them, which stimulate the production of steroids.
A diet for acne should consist of fish, lean meat, cottage cheese, cereals and steamed vegetables. Switching to natural nutrition will replenish vitamins and microelements. Particular attention should be paid to phosphorus (fish), calcium (cheese and cottage cheese), potassium (cabbage and dried fruits), zinc, vitamins (fruits). The principle of healthy eating is the daily consumption of natural products that will become a healthy alternative to cakes, muffins, and sausage sandwiches. Improve your diet and the reasons for acne will no longer appear.
Folk remedies
Folk remedies include masks, lotions, and rubs. To treat acne, natural drying agents are used: alcohol and lemon juice, as well as herbs (calendula, chamomile, oak bark). All these methods are good, but rashes associated with hormonal imbalances cannot be cured with herbs. Therefore, before you start treatment with folk remedies, you should find out exactly the causes of the rash from your doctor.
- Prepare an infusion of dry chamomile and calendula (boil and keep in a thermos for about 25 minutes). Crush 1-2 tablets of furatsilin and pour into the infusion. Apply the mixture to your face at night. If you repeat the procedure regularly, you will notice an improvement within a week.
- Grate the sour apple and horseradish and mix them in equal parts. Apply the mixture to your face for half an hour, then wash off. The procedure must be carried out daily.
- An effective remedy against acne is a mask made from mumiyo. Dissolve 10 g mumiyo in 1 tsp. boiled water. Dissolve 2 tsp in a water bath. honey and add mumiyo. Apply the mixture to your face for half an hour and then wash off with warm water.
Prevention
If you suffer from acne, cleansing your skin is a prerequisite for treatment. For successful prevention it is recommended:
- Cleanse your skin twice a day and after physical activity. Acne areas are cleaned with mild soap and rinsed thoroughly. Vigorous washing with scrubs only irritates the skin, worsening rashes.
- Protect your skin. Do not squeeze out age-related acne. If you have to spend time in the sun, be sure to use a non-comedogenic sunscreen with a protection level higher than SPF 15. Sunlight can aggravate the condition, cause skin burns and cause premature aging. You should also not wear tight clothes, as they will rub and irritate the skin.
Acne at 40-50 years old is, of course, an unpleasant phenomenon, but fixable. If you carefully identify the causes of their occurrence and take responsibly the recommendations of specialists, then within 2-3 months you will be able to return your skin to a blooming, well-groomed appearance.
Types of acne
There are several types of acne:
- blackheads – comedones;
- white formations are wen.
Inflammations that are black in color are initially invisible, as they are transparent. Blackness occurs as a result of reaction with oxygen. Comedones are located on the surface of the skin. The process of their inflammation begins due to clogging of the pores: the ducts become clogged with sebaceous secretions and keratinized pieces of skin.
White acne, unlike black acne, begins an inflammatory process in the inner layers of the skin and looks like small nodules.
