A child with acne.
Acne vulgaris often appears as red bumps, often on the facial area. It is commonly known as acne, whiteheads, whiteheads, whiteheads or blackheads. Blackheads and whiteheads are also known as comedones and occur when oil and dead skin cells block a hair follicle from opening. Blackheads have a wide opening with a black tint. White dots have an almost closed aperture with no hue.
Acne vulgarism often appears as red bumps on the face.
A dermatologist can diagnose the severity of a patient’s acne. Acne vulgaris is classified as fewer than 20 comedones or fewer than 30 total lesions. Moderate acne ranges from 20 to 100 comedones, or a total of 30 to 125 lesions. If a person has severe acne, he has more than 100 comedones or more than 125 lesions in total.
Acne is fairly easy to diagnose. You may notice small bumps on the skin that may be tender, red, or pus-filled at the tip. A person may also have larger, painful, solid lumps. Pus-filled lumps below the surface of the skin are called cysts. This can cause infection and scarring.
Acne vulgaris usually affects teenagers.
Human skin has many tiny hair follicles or a skin structure that produces hair. These follicles can become clogged with the skin’s natural oils, called sebum. The blockage can occur due to an overproduction of sebum. The follicles can also become clogged with dead skin cells. When the hair follicle becomes clogged, acne vulgaris can form.
There are some risk factors that can make a person more likely to develop acne. Teenagers are more susceptible to this, due to hormonal changes that can increase sebum production. Women, especially pregnant women, are also more susceptible to acne. A person who uses cosmetics, or any other oily or greasy substance, is also more likely to get acne.
A person with moderate acne vulgaris has 20 to 100 comedones.
For most mild cases of acne vulgaris, some basic skin care can help prevent breakouts. The skin can be gently washed with a mild cleanser rather than a strong astringent or facial scrub. Some over-the-counter acne products can help treat oily skin. Products most likely to help include salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
If over-the-counter products aren’t enough to control acne breakouts, a dermatologist may prescribe stronger medications. Some options include tretinoin, adapalene, and tazarotene. These are applied topically to the skin. Oral medications, such as antibiotics or isotretinoin, can also help.
Human skin has many hair follicles that can become clogged.
Some patients may find that laser therapy helps cure acne vulgaris. Laser therapy can help decrease sebum production and reduce inflammation. A dermatologist may also recommend a microdermabrasion or chemical peel to control acne. These techniques help restore the surface of the skin.