Understanding Acne

Acne is incredibly common, but it can still make you want to hide your face from the world. If you struggle with acne, you may be wondering how a dermatologist can help. If you would like to know more about your type of acne, what caused it, and how a dermatologist can help, keep reading.

What Is Acne?

Basically, acne is clogged hair follicles, but there are multiple forms of acne, including:

• Blackheads
• Whiteheads
• Papules
• Pustules

Blackheads and whiteheads are similar. Both are bumps filled with oil and dead skin. Blackheads have open pores, which exposes the debris to oxidation and turns them yellow, dark brown, and/or black. Whiteheads are closed, so you can't see the debris. Neither are typically painful.

Papules and pustules are both bumps on your skin that often appear red. They are usually sensitive and/or painful. Papules are hard, but pustules are soft with a white/yellow tip or head of pus.

What Causes Acne?

Acne is largely caused by hormonal changes and imbalances. This makes it common during puberty. People who menstruate may also struggle with acne flair-ups during their period. This may also happen during pregnancy or if someone develops polycystic ovary syndrome.

Exposing your skin to grease, such as using greasy lotions or working in a kitchen with greasy foods, may increase your risk of acne because it exposes your skin to more sticky, clog-causing debris. Other factors that may worsen your acne or increase your risk of developing acne include:

• Stress
• Genetics
• Some medications for depression
• Some makeup cosmetics
• Smoking

How Can a Dermatologist Help Fight Acne?

Dermatologists are an excellent choice for treating acne, and they can treat it in many ways. Some prescribe medications that fight acne, but others use chemical peels, lasers, and light therapies. If the acne has turned into a cyst, a dermatologist can drain it. Treating acne can help improve self-esteem, but it also reduces the risk of scarring.

If you already have acne scars from a previous struggle with acne, a dermatologist offers services to reduce the appearance of the scars and dark spots. Chemical peels, dermabrasion, and laser resurfacing are all used to treat acne scars.

You aren't the only one who struggles with acne or acne scarring. Acne is typically caused by hormones and clogged pores, but a dermatologist can help. If you would like to know more about acne and acne scar treatments, contact a dermatologist in your area today.