Different Types of Acne
As if having acne isn’t bad enough, there are unfortunately different types of acne with various symptoms, requiring different types of treatments which can make determining the correct treatment for your acne quite hard until you see a professional acne dermatologist.
An issue often faced with acne is confidence, which can make it quite daunting to visit a dermatologist, however, the benefits of doing so and getting the right treatment for you can be life-changing. Prior to seeking professional help, many people do their own research to determine which acne they have and the different types of treatments available from the pharmacy without requiring professional help.
Common Acne (Acne Vulgaris)
Acne vulgaris is the most common form of acne with 90% of adolescents suffering from this type of acne. Typically, this acne causes blackheads and whiteheads to break out on your face, neck and shoulder areas. This can lead to psychological and physical issues creating anxiety and a loss of confidence due to the appearance on your face.
Cystic Acne
Cystic acne is another common form of acne that results from bacteria on the skin clogging the pores which result in sore and red cysts causing inflammation under the outer layers of the skin.
Fungal Acne
Fungal acne is spots caused by Malassezia, a yeast that is naturally found on the skin that grows within the hair follicles and causing inflammation bumps on the skin, similar to that of cystic acne. This causes spot outbreaks with pus-filled whiteheads on the surface layers of the skin.
These are three of the core types of acne which are commonly seen on the skin. However, there are others that result from bacterial, fungal, and cystic acne. These include nodular acne, Acne Conglobata and many more. Each will need a different course of treatment as some of them will benefit from topical retinoids such as Differin, which includes salicylic acids, while others might require a slightly more invasive acne treatment such as micro-needling.
Finding the Right Acne Treatment for Your Acne
Once your dermatologist has determined your acne type, they will identify the most appropriate acne treatment for you.
Acne Treatments for Bacterial Acne
Because bacterial acne is found on the outer layers of the skin and thus penetrates into the pores, clogging them, bacterial acne is first treated at the root cause of cleansing the outer layers of the skin from excess bacteria.
Treatments for bacterial acne typically include ingredients like adapalene, which is included in topical retinoids as lotions or gels which require a prescription, but also in some facial cleansers found over the counter.
If the bacterial acne is severe, acne dermatologists might recommend a course of micro-needling to remove the outer layers of the skin and improve collagen reproduction and skin cell rejuvenation.
Acne Treatments for Cystic Acne
To treat cystic acne, we often resort to home acne treatments such as essential oils and facial cleansers. However, having a pH-balanced cleanser is key for treating this sort of acne as the pH levels need to be balanced to counteract the imbalance causing the higher yeast levels on the skin.
Dermatologists may prescribe medical acne treatments with Benzoyl Peroxide, an ingredient that is used to remove excess bacteria and debris from the skin, flushing out toxins from the pores that are clogging.
Acne Treatments for Fungal Acne
Fungal acne requires more than a simple medical treatment. It might be recommended to shower twice a day, but also wear airy clothes that are looser fitting. This stops the skin from being irritated and causing acne breakouts, but also allows the pores to breathe, reducing sweat clogging the pores from an increase in sebaceous oil.
Additionally, when showering, using anti-dandruff shampoo has been recommended to help remove dry skin from the scalp and face, allowing the skin to be clearer and rejuvenate more efficiently.
To further treat this type of acne, over-the-counter anti-fungal treatments, both oral and non-oral that are used for things like Athlete’s Foot or Jock Itch can help reduce the yeast and fungal symptoms of fungal acne.
Finally, diet can be something that causes this type of acne to breakout and therefore reducing carbohydrate sugars is paramount to improving your chances of treating this acne.
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