Stages of Acne
Acne, like most other
progressive ailments, comes in several stages.
Most outbreaks of acne are relatively tame and amount to not much
more than a temporary source of irritation, but a few cases end up being a
monstrously disfiguring, uncomfortable and stubborn skin condition,
requiring serious professional help.
To help with diagnosis and treatment of acne, dermatologists have
classified acne as falling into one of three stages: mild, moderate and
severe. These classes are told
apart by the size and characteristics of the acne outbreaks, and require
different regimens of treatment.
Mild acne occurs when
the outbreak consists of up to 3 dozen raised blemishes, called comedones,
or scattered papules, with no permanent lesions and no lesions that are
visible from farther than 2.5 meters away.
Whiteheads, blackheads and small pimples are normal for mild acne,
which can be found on any individual, regardless of age, and manifests in
most areas with skin, including the face, the upper body, and the thighs.
Mild acne is treated adequately with a daily washing regimen, twice a
day, and the use of over the counter topical gels or solutions to cleanse
the area of bacteria and treat the blemishes.
Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are popular ingredients in most
mild acne medications. These
acne spots normally disappear within six weeks of their emergence.
If they persist longer, then it is possible that the outbreak is
moderate or severe acne, instead.
Moderate acne is
characterized by a greater spread of comedones and inflamed, pus-filled
lesions, known as pustules, which are about 1-2 cm in diameter and visible
beyond a distance of 2.5 meters.
The lesions are reddish in color, indicating an advanced level of acne
affliction. This stage of acne
is treated with a combination of topical substances and oral medications,
which will be prescribed by your local medical practitioner.
The oral medications consist of antibiotics, which include
tetracycline, erythromycin and doxycycline.
Women can take anti-androgens to reduce hormone activity that
stimulates acne formation. Also,
moderate acne suffers take ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatories to reduce
the pustule swelling. The acne
outbreak should disappear within three months, or at least show signs of
improvement. Otherwise, the
dermatologist may classify the same as severe acne.
Severe acne is
diagnosed when moderate acne persists or worsens, extending beyond the
previous bounds of the outbreak.
Acne that consists of nodules, cysts or the rare acne conglobata also
qualify as severe acne. At this
stage, topical solutions are no longer considered effective, and oral
medication is prescribed as soon as possible to alleviate the symptoms,
which dosage will last from between six months to one year.
Isotretinoin in oral form is the conventional first choice of
dermatologists, complemented by high doses of oral antibiotics to remedy the
aggravated bacterial infection.
As with moderate acne, women are best off taking hormone pills that increase
female hormones like estrogen, while reducing the male hormone androgen,
seen as one of the primary culprits for the formation of acne.
If you suspect that you have developed severe acne, you should not
attempt to self-medicate, and instead see a specialist when you get the
opportunity.
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