Acne & Men
Introduction
Acne is the most common skin condition affecting men. Most men would develop acne sometimes in their life. Fortunately, for most, it would be a mild condition. Nevertheless, it may cause severe skin eruption for some, causing puss-filled pustules. In some, these lesions may go deep into the skin, and without treatment, they may leave permanent scars.
Acne is more likely to occur in teenagers and young adults. Acne is caused by the blockage of oil-producing glands of the skin. These glands may also be affected by bacterial overgrowth and may become filled with dead skin.
The various types of acne
Acne could be mild and, in some cases, may cause severe skin disease. Some of the common types of acne are:
Blackheads and whiteheads
Blackheads and whiteheads they are pretty common. They look white when bumps are closed by oil and black when bumps open up and become filled with dead skin.
Papules, pustules, nodules, cysts
Papules, pustules, nodules, cysts doctors would often call this a disease acne vulgaris. They are the more severe forms of acne. Papules mean just inflammatory formations; pustules are when pus develops. Nodules and cysts go deeper into the skin, cause pain, and may leave scars.
Acne may be benign in most but challenging to treat. Some people may poorly respond to various treatments. It is because acne is caused by multiple reasons. It is due to hormonal changes, excess sebum production, follicular plugging, infections like Cutibacterium acnes, and the release of inflammatory mediators.
Acne management
As already mentioned, one of the reasons why acne is challenging to manage is different causes in various individuals. Quite often, acne would be caused by multiple reasons, but there would often be one or two more important reasons. For example, the skin may react to hormones fluctuation in some people, causing increased sebum production, while in others, an infection may be the prime cause.
Acne maybe even made worse by certain cosmetics. High humidity and sweating are also risk factors. However, acne does not have anything to do with frequent or lack of sex, masturbation, or even not washing the face frequently.
But it appears that diet may be a contributing factor, like a high milk diet and a high-glycemic diet.
It is vital to understand that acne is highly challenging to manage in some cases. In less severe cases, they might be managed with topical creams. Acne skincare is quite challenging.
Supplements and non-prescription topical solutions may help prevent acne or manage milder conditions. Best skincare for acne may include topical use of cleansing solutions containing salicylic acid along with hyaluronic acid. In addition, a combination of vitamins like A, E, D, and zinc may promote skin healing.
Supplements are good for preventing, may work for blackheads, whiteheads, and even papules. However, in more severe cases, they should be used along with prescription medications.
Doctors would often start with topical tretinoin. If inflammation is mild and acne is resistant, they might add topical antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide to the treatment. Moderate acne that is resistant to topical treatment will require prolonged antibiotic therapy while severe cases of acne would need oral isotretinoin. Isotretinoin is reserved for severe cases only as it is a highly toxic drug. Cystic acne may even need injecting triamcinolone into the lesions.
One may attempt to manage mild acne at home by using commonly available remedies. Fortunately, these remedies and supplements may work in most cases. However, if acne does not respond to supplements or skincare products, it is better to seek medical attention.
In some, acne eruptions may be quite widespread, covering most of the face. Pustules, nodules, and cysts would rarely respond to any supplement and require prolonged medical treatment. Doctors would often need to select from various treatment options carefully. What worked for one may not work in another.
When treating acne, it is vital to prevent scarring. Moreover, acne is a condition that affects teenagers and young adults. Thus, in some cases, acne may cause severe psychological distress.
Once the acne has subsided, one may continue using antibacterial soaps, scrubs, and facewashes regularly. In addition, peeling agents like salicylic acid, resorcinol, glycolic acid, or sulfur may be used for the self-management of milder cases.