What is acne?
Acne is a skin condition that commonly affects teenagers, usually girls between the ages of 14 and 17 years and boys between 16 and 19 years. It can continue into the 20s and 30s and sometimes first develops at these ages. It affects the face in 99 per cent of people and can also be present on the back and chest. It may be more severe at one site than another and may affect one or all three areas. Acne can range from mild acne, where blackheads, whiteheads and a few inflamed spots are present, to severe acne where there may be large, deep lesions that can take weeks to settle and may cause scarring.
Acne is not infectious and cannot be passed on to another person.
Acne can cause considerable psychological stress and should always be treated. Without treatment it could last for up to eight years and cause permanent scarring and disfigurement.
What causes acne?
There are many myths surrounding acne - it is not caused by poor hygiene or dirt and cannot be cured by washing more frequently, in fact this may make the condition worse. In addition, there is no evidence that eating chocolate or sweets can cause or worsen acne. However, some people may find that certain foods make their acne worse - it will help to avoid these foods but a strict diet alone will not cure acne.
The sebaceous (oil) glands are small glands surrounding the fine hairs on the skin. These glands produce sebum (oil), which is released via the hair follicles. Acne is usually triggered by puberty when rising levels of male hormones (androgens) in both boys and girls cause the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum. This excess sebum causes the lining of the hair follicles to become inflamed, making them narrower and resulting in the formation of plugs at the surface of the skin. Bacteria can then grow causing redness, swelling and the formation of pus. The black in a blackhead is not dirt but dried oil and shed skin cells.
What treatment is available?
The choice of treatment depends upon the severity of the acne. All acne should be treated as it will not improve if left untreated and could become worse.
Mild acne is usually treated with a topical lotion, cream or gel (applied directly to the skin). Many of these products contain an ingredient called benzoyl peroxide, which has an antibacterial effect and needs to be used daily over a period of months before improvement occurs. Benzoyl peroxide is found in many acne preparations that can be purchased over the counter from a pharmacist but is also available on prescription in different concentrations (eg, Acnecide®, Brevoxyl®, Panoxyl®).
Topical nicotinamide gel (Nicam®) may also be of benefit in mild to moderate inflammatory acne.
Azaleic acid (eg, Finacea®, Skinoren®) is less irritant than benzoyl peroxide and also fights bacteria but may take many months to produce an improvement particularly in moderately severe acne. It is used when there are large numbers of blackheads present.
Topical antibiotics such as erythromycin (eg, Eryacne®, Stiemycin®) and clindamycin (eg, Dalacin® T, Zindaclin®) may be prescribed for mild acne and are often given in combination with benzoyl peroxide. The topical antiseptic chlorhexidine (eg, Cepton®) may also be used.
In moderate acne, topical treatments containing substances known as retinoids, such as isotretinoin (Isotrex®) or tretinoin (Retin-A®), or retinoid-like substances, such as adapalene (Differin®) may be used. These products increase sebum drainage, reduce plug formation on the skin surface and increase skin renewal. They should not be used in pregnancy.
Isotretinoin can also be given in tablet form (eg, Roaccutane®) for severe acne. This drug is prescribed when antibiotics and other treatments have not been effective and must not be taken during pregnancy. It must be prescribed by a named dermatologist.
Combination products for topical use are also available. For example, Aknemycin Plus® solution (erythromycin and tretinoin), Isotrexin® gel (erythromycin and isotretinoin), Zineryt® solution (erythromycin and zinc acetate), Duac® gel (clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide) and Epiduo® (adapalene and benzoyl peroxide).
In moderate and severe acne topical treatments are usually given in combination with oral antibiotics, such as doxycycline, erythromycin, lymecycline, minocycline, oxytetracycline and tetracycline. Treatment needs to be continued for at least three months. Little improvement may be noticed during the first month of antibiotic treatment. Around three quarters of people with acne will see an improvement with antibiotic therapy. Side effects that may be caused by antibiotics include thrush, sensitivity to sunlight and a decrease in the effectiveness of the oral contraceptive pill.
Hormone treatments such as the oral contraceptive pill may significantly improve acne. Co-cyprindiol (eg, Clairette®, Dianette®) is an oral contraceptive that is prescribed specifically for female acne sufferers.
Self help measures
- Use a mild facial cleanser morning and evening and whenever you become sweaty. Avoid scrubbing the face as this will make the acne worse.
- Avoid squeezing or picking the spots as this will make them worse and may cause scarring.
- Use water-based moisturisers rather than oil-based products.
- Aim to eat a healthy balanced diet. If you notice that a particular food makes your acne flare up, try to avoid it.
- Drink plenty of water and exercise regularly.
- Avoid exposing your skin to too much cold, heat and sunlight. Exposure to sun can improve acne in about 60 per cent of people but the use of sun beds is not advised due to the long term risks of sun damage and skin cancer. Humid weather may worsen the acne due to excess sweating.
- Long hair may irritate acne, tying it back may help.
Further help available from:
Talk Acne
Internet: www.talkacne.com
Fact sheet provided by MIMS
Date last reviewed: March 2008
