Acne (Part-1): Different Types of Acne & Most common treatment mistakes

As, I am getting many queries on ACNE from my SKIN patients,

today we are going to start a new series on ACNE.

Under this series we will discuss—

• All acne are not same. Different types of acne and most common treatment mistakes
• Different causes of acne. does stress, sweating or makeup cause your acne.
• Difference between teen acne and adult acne.
• Nutrition for your skin and various treatment options for treatment of your acne.

Today we will understand the first point-

 All acne are not same!

And when you know which TYPE OF ACNE you are having.

It is the first important step you can take to successfully treat your acne.

So, let’s start….

1)First type of acne is WHITEHEAD

They are small elevations with whitish ‘heads’ on your skin.

Your skin needs certain amount of oil to keep it soft.

Your skin contains hair follicles.

Along with these hair follicles, special glands known as SEBACEOUS GLANDS are situated.

These glands secrete your skin’s oil-known as SEBUM.

Your skin regularly sheds its dead skin cells.

When your hair follicle’s pores get clogged by

excess amount of sebum and your dead skin cells, your skin suffer from white heads.

 

MOST COMMON TREATMENT MISTAKES for White Heads:

Squeezing your white head is the most common mistake.

When you squeeze your white head,

Bacteria from your hands can get into your acne pore.

This may increase the infection and your acne may worsen.

2)Second type of acne is BLACK HEADS

Your skin’s white heads get converted to black heads .

How?

When the skin around your white head’s bump opens,

the air from the atmosphere goes in.

This air chemically reacts with the oil present in your white head.

This chemical reaction is called   OXIDATION.

The oxidation process gives the oil black color and

This is how your black heads forms.

MOST COMMON TREATMENT MISTAKES for Black Head-

Many don’t think blackhead to be type of pimple.

Therefore, they try to treat black head with

some pore cleansing products available in the medical store.

Most of the time you do this, you don’t get the best results.

 

3)Third type of Acne is PAPULES

Your white heads have only your dead skin cells and sebum,

While in your papules, bacteria is also involved.

This causes inflammation and your skin eruption now looks red and swollen.

However, still the pus is not formed.

They are usually small to medium in size.

 

4)Fourth type of Acne is PUSTUALS-

When your papules get pus inside them,

They are called pustules.

As they contain pus, they are painful.

They look bigger and yellowish, whitish in color.

It usually is very tempting to squeeze them out.

You must control your urge-as it leads to scar on your skin.

Patience is required at this stage.

MOST COMMON TREATMENT MISTAKES FOR PAPULES & PUSTULES:

Picking of pimples, which lead to prolonged healing time.

This in turn increases the risk of scarring.

In addition, infected material and bacteria

can get pushed in your skin.

Which will lead to more severe form of acne.

5)Last type of Acne is SEVERE ACNE –

NODULES, CYSTS AND ACNE CONGLOBATA-

Is the skin of your face full of red, large inflamed skin eruption;

And they are there since months?

Well, chances are that you are suffering from severe form of acne

That is NODULES, CYSTS AND ACNE CONCLOBATA.

They will lead to severe and permanent damage to your skin.

MOST COMMON TREATMENT MISTAKES FOR SEVERE ACNE-

As these are there for longer period of time on your face,

Chances are that you develop a subconscious habit of continuously

Scratching these lesions.

That will only make it worse and will make the scars bigger and

Difficult to treat.

Never ever ever try to treat it yourself!

In reality, you must take some professional help as early as possible.

 

So, today we have discussed that:

• All acne are not same & Different type of acne and most common treatment mistakes.

In next tips we will be discussing:

• Different causes of acne. does stress, sweating or makeup cause your acne?
• Different between teen acne and adult acne. Good habits for teen acne.
• Nutrition for your skin and various treatment options for treatment of your acne.

Today you had learn to find out -which type of acne you are having.

Do share this useful information by clicking the social media links below this blog.

We will dive-in deeper in our next Tuesday tip.

See you next Tuesday.

Till then, Take care…..

 

Providing simple solutions

for the complexities of life:

Dr Bhumita Makwana

Your Dietitian & Cosmetic Clinician