ONE OF THE MOST COMMON REASONS FOR VISITING A DERMATOLOGIST DURING PUBERTY IS ACNE.

Acne is a disease that affects the hair follicle. It usually occurs in early adolescence and affects up to 80% of all individuals. The milder normal acne that affects many adolescents lasts 4-5 years but there are more persistent cases where acne can last 12 and sometimes more years.

Acne occurs on parts of the body where the sebaceous glands are most active such as the face, chest, back and shoulders. The main causative agent of acne is unknown. They have been implicated however:

• The heredity
• The seborrhoea
• The androgens
• The disorder of keratinization within the follicle
• The climate
• The diet
• Certain medicines and chemicals

Today we believe that acne is the result of the interaction of 4 main factors in genetically compromised individuals. So we have:

• The over-secretion of sebum (seborrhea, the sebaceous glands are overactive)
• Blockage of the trichomotogenous duct (the sebaceous glands are under the influence of androgens which in men are produced in the testicles and in women in small physiological amounts in the ovaries and adrenal glands)
• Colonization by microbial agents (acne bacterium propionate P.Acnes.)
• Inflammation

The acne rash shows polymorphism. It consists, depending on the type and severity of the disease, of:

• Phagespores (small patches of the familiar white and black spots)
• Papules (small red painful pimples)
• Pustules (small pimples with pus)
• Nodules and cysts (painful larger pimples with pus and redness)
• Scars (acne lesions after their regression can leave scars which are sometimes atrophic and sometimes hypertrophic such as keloids)

The severity of acne varies from person to person and there are recessions and flares. Due to the chronic course of the disease, the full cooperation of the patient is needed, who must understand the necessity of continuous treatment. One of the most important things to make a habit is to clean the affected area twice a day with soap and water.

There are many treatments for acne depending on the type and severity of the disease. So we can prescribe:

• Topical preparations (topical antibiotics, retinoic acid, benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, etc.)
• Systemic treatment (oral antibiotics, isotretinoin, hormones)
• Peelings and Laser

Good cleansing, proper treatment, proper diet, hands off pimples and you will have an acne-free face.