Dr. Gila Isman Nelkenbaum explains how to treat acne/the Walla system
Acne is one of the most common chronic skin diseases, colloquially called "pubertal acne", for the reason that it usually appears for the first time in adolescence.
About 85% of teenagers suffer from acne of varying degrees of severity, and in some cases, sufferers continue to deal with the disease even after the age of 30. Sometimes, the disease begins in the third decade and lasts for several years.
Women suffer from acne five times more than men, and about a third of women face acne during their entire reproductive age.
Acne is defined as a chronic disease, during which there are periods of worsening and improvement.
It damages the hair follicles and the subcutaneous sebaceous glands, which secrete a fatty substance called sebaceous milk.
During puberty, the body experiences hormonal changes, which cause the mammary glands to produce an increased amount of sebum.
The sebum, combined with dead skin cells, block the hair follicles, and cause the development of wounds, which tend to get infected easily.
What are the symptoms of the disease?
Acne symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe.
It usually develops on skin areas with many sebaceous (oil) glands, including the face, shoulders, back and chest.
It can also appear on the buttocks, legs or arms.
When acne appears, there are changes on the skin, such as small red bumps containing yellow or white pus, white clots, black clots, a crust over the bumps, redness and swelling on the skin surrounding the lesions, pain or tenderness, especially with cysts and pimples.
A disease with a distinct female advantage.
Acne/ShutterStock, New Africa
What types of acne are there and what are the symptoms?
There are several types of acne, which have similar causes but are different in appearance and severity:
1. White clots:
small white bumps that develop when oil and skin cells block a pore but remain under the skin.
2. Black clots:
develop when a plug of a pore accumulates with oils and skin cells and widens the opening of the pore.
They look dark not because of dirt but because of oxidation - a chemical reaction when the contents of a blocked pore are exposed to oxygen.
3. Pustules and papules:
inflamed acne lesions that develop when pores are filled with excess oil, bacteria and skin cells.
Papules are red bumps, and pustules are filled with pus.
4. Pimples and cysts:
more serious than other types of acne.
These are large and painful acne lesions that develop deep within the skin.
The cysts are filled with pus, but the pimples do not contain pus.
I have acne.
Who is recommended to contact?
Most of the time, age spots will improve without any special treatment and will go away on their own.
In any case, it is important to have an initial consultation with a dermatologist in order to receive a clinical diagnosis based on the appearance of the wounds and the location of the lesions.
It is recommended not to try to treat acne on your own without a doctor's consultation, not to try to "explode" wounds, or apply such and such ointments.
How do you treat acne?
The accepted medical treatments depend on the severity level of the wounds.
Currently, available treatments for acne include antibiotic ointments, oral antibiotics, hormonal medications, and isotretinoin (Thero's Curetan).
Curetan treatment usually lasts between 16 and 24 weeks.
Most patients need one treatment cycle.
It is possible that your acne condition will continue to improve for up to 8 weeks after the end of treatment with Curetan, so usually another treatment cycle is not started until 8 weeks after the end of the treatment.
Sometimes there is a worsening of the acne condition in the first weeks of treatment.
However, the situation usually improves with progress.
The treatment should be continued as recommended by the attending physician, even if there is an improvement in the condition.
The use of medications to treat acne is usually approved from the age of 12. Before this age, treatment is mainly based on over-the-counter products with milder active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and more.
In addition, it is important to ensure the safety of the treatment and to observe regular monitoring of the side effects of the acne medications.
The main side effects that can appear from drug treatment for acne include dryness and itching, irritation and redness, excessive peeling of the skin, sensitivity to light and sunlight.
Antibiotics and isotretinoin may cause general side effects such as headaches, nausea, indigestion and more.
Therefore, it is important to report unusual side effects to the doctor during the treatment, in order to correctly adjust the dosage and the appropriate preparation for each patient.
Not just inside.
Acne can also appear on the back, stomach and other body areas / Rebecca Zaida Labs
Is there a treatment that does not include drugs?
Medical photodynamic therapy is a non-pharmacological treatment that is suitable for ages 12 and up.
The treatment is intended for moderate and severe acne, without the possible side effects of drug treatment.
This is a treatment that combines radio waves that cause a decrease in the activity of the mammary glands, which increases the penetration of the substance applied to the skin during the treatment.
This treatment option is suitable for those who cannot or are afraid to take medication.
One treatment or up to three treatments are required, subject to the therapist's recommendation, and you can usually see an improvement after about two weeks from the first treatment.
As recommended in most skin treatments, winter is a good season for treatments because the strong sun skin in Israel can cause redness and strong irritation.
Is there a way to prevent acne?
As mentioned, acne develops when hair follicles (pores) become clogged with excess sebum and sebum is a natural oil produced by sebaceous glands in the skin.
When these glands become overactive, they produce more oil than the skin needs, and this leads to clogged pores.
Certain measures can be taken to try and prevent the formation of acne or at least reduce its severity and frequency:
Wash your face twice a day with a gentle conditioner, while avoiding too strong rubbing that may cause skin irritation and lead to more breakouts.
Using skin products that do not clog pores and do not tend to clog pores.
Avoiding contact with the face during the day in order to prevent the transfer of bacteria and oil.
Eating a healthy and balanced diet with whole grains, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats.
Washing the hair daily if it is oily and keeping it away from the face
Reducing stress through exercise, stretching, breathing exercises and even spending time with loved ones
The author is a specialist in dermatology, an aesthetic dermatology consultant in the Dr. Levinger Aesthetics Network of the Danal Group
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