Acne is a disease that needs to be treated. Contrary to popular belief, acne, which affects 85% of the society at some point in their lives, is not a puberty-specific condition and does not go away after puberty.
Acne should be treated because;
Being pimple affects the appearance of the person negatively and reduces the person’s self-confidence. According to the researches, acne is in the first place among the diseases that negatively affect the quality of life.
Pimples leave blemishes and scars as they pass. Treating blemishes and scars is more difficult than once. It is sometimes not possible to completely eradicate it.
Acne can be seen together with some diseases. Polycystic ovary syndrome, hidradenitis suppurativa, pilonoidal sinus and sacroileitis are some of them.
Acne is most common on the face. It can also be seen on the back, chest area, shoulders, upper arms and hips.
With the start of the adrenal glands at the beginning of the puberty period, black spots (open comedones) begin to appear in the middle of the face, especially in the nose, forehead and chin area. These are sometimes accompanied by white dots (closed comedones) that look better when the skin is stretched. Later, with the work of the ovaries and testicles, other symptoms of acne begin to appear. The severity of acne can vary between individuals, as well as differences over time in the same individual.
A history of acne or acne scars in the mother and / or father are valuable clues about the severity of acne and the process it will follow.
Acne is not unique to puberty. Although it is most common in young adults, it can be seen in the 30s, 40s or even 50s.
Acne is a condition that needs to be treated. After the severity and type of acne are graded by your dermatologist, treatment is planned. Your age, how many years you have had acne, the acne treatments you have used before, the skin care products you are still using, your choice of treatments and make-up, your menstrual system, whether you are prone to hair growth, hair loss and/or weight gain, and your medication and nutritional habits are effective in choosing the treatment.
Most acne is treated with drugs such as topical cream/gel/lotion applied to the skin. It takes 3-8 weeks for the acne to begin to decrease and disappear. For this reason, it is essential to be patient and use medicines regularly. Gently washing the face twice a day with suitable cleansers does not cure acne, but increases the effectiveness of drug treatments. Therefore, it is the first step and is valuable. It may be necessary to use oral medications in the treatment of severe acne. In addition to the drugs you use during the acne treatment, your dermatologist may perform applications such as chemical peeling, light and laser treatments, and mild cautery.
Tips for dealing with acne:
Gently wash your face 2 times a day (morning and evening) and quickly after sweating with a suitable cleanser without rubbing or brushing your skin with your fingertips.
When choosing a cleanser, choose cleansers that do not irritate your skin, do not contain alcohol, and are suitable for skin pH. Avoid cleansers with astringent, tonic and exfoliative effects.
Wash your hair regularly, if your hair is oily, you can wash it every day.
Keep your hands away from your face.
Stay away from the sun and solarium. Contrary to popular belief, the sun’s rays and solarium do not dry your acne, they only camouflage it. After 1-2 months, the acne will increase / flare up.
It is very valuable that you use the medicines given by your dermatologist regularly as recommended. Acne medications can cause redness, peeling, and irritation on the skin, in this case, do not stop the medication, ask your doctor for help to reduce these negative effects.
Acne medications are not used only when acne occurs or on acne. When used regularly, they prevent new acne breakouts. Therefore, it is necessary to use it regularly on the entire face area and be patient for the result.