Acne Treatment

Acne – an unsightly and often painful skin condition – occurs when our hair follicles get clogged with skin oil (sebum), dead skin cells, and bacteria. This chronic skin condition is generally identified by pus-filled pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads. Acne is more common among teenagers, but people from other age groups can also have this issue.

Acne often develops on the face and neck but may also occur on the shoulders, arms and back. Depending on its severity, acne can leave a scar on the affected skin area and may cause emotional distress. The good news is that you can avoid these issues with early acne treatment.

What are the leading causes of Acne?

The main factors that may cause acne include:

• Excess production of oil (sebum) in the skin
• Oil and dead skin cells clogging the hair follicles
• Bacteria
• Inflammation

Factors that lead to clogged pores or follicles may also lead to acne. Pores clog when dead skin cells and excess skin oil get trapped inside them. These clogged pores eventually become comedones, a non-inflammatory type of acne.

Sometimes, the bacteria p.acnes also get into the clogged pores and cause inflammation. This inflammation can lead to the development of nodules or acne cysts, a type of inflammatory acne.

Factors that may cause acne to flare or intensify include:

• Hormonal changes: Boys and girls experience an increase in hormone androgen levels during puberty. It causes sebaceous glands to enlarge and produce more sebum, increasing the risk of acne breakouts. Hormonal changes during midlife can also raise the risk of acne.
• Medications: Medications containing testosterone, lithium, or corticosteroids can cause acne.
• Diet: According to studies, a diet containing carbohydrate-rich foods may worsen acne.
• Stress: Stress doesn’t cause acne but may aggravate active acne.

What are the Risk Factors for Acne?

Common risk factors linked to acne include:

• Being a teenager
• Hormonal changes, particularly the ones caused by puberty, pregnancy, or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• Family history of Acne
• Skin’s frequent exposure to oily or greasy substances, such as oily creams and lotions
• Consistent pressure or friction, usually caused by cell phone use, tight collars, helmets, and backpack

What are the types of Acne?

Acne comes in different types, but its two main categories are non-inflammatory and inflammatory acne.

Noninflammatory Acne

• Blackheads: Also called open comedones
• Whiteheads: Also called closed comedones

Inflammatory Acne

• Papules: Inflamed spots, generally appearing red or pink
• Pustules: Pimples filled with pus and surrounded by red rings
• Nodules: Solid pimples that develop deep under the skin. These pimples are large and generally painful.
• Cysts: Pus-filled blemishes that may cause scars

What are the Symptoms of Acne?

Acne most commonly appears on the face but can also occur on other body areas like the neck, shoulders, chest, back, and legs.

Skin changes that indicate the acne problem include:

• Papules – Small red bumps
• Pustules – pus-filled small red bumps
• Skin bumps that crust
• Skin eruptions with redness around them
• Cysts 
• Whiteheads
• Blackheads 

How is Acne Diagnosed?

A dermatologist at EuroMed Clinic Dubai will look at your skin to diagnose acne. They will 

• Examine your face, chest, neck, and other areas to check for different types of blemishes, such as whiteheads, blackheads, nodules, or cysts
• Grade your acne to determine its severity
• Find out the reason for your acne

Acne treatment will be advised based on all these findings.

Acne Treatments

Acne blemishes are generally treatable with the following options:

• Topical Medications
• Laser Treatments
• Chemical Peel

Let’s explain these treatment methods one by one.

Topical Medications

Topical medications usually include gels, creams, and lotions that help clear follicles and pores of excess sebum and impurities. Examples of these products include tretinoin, adapalene, and tazarotene. You can discuss which product to use and when to use it with your dermatologist.

Other topical solutions to prevent acne include:

• Retinoids
• Antibiotics – such as clindamycin and erythromycin, both of which are generally recommended with benzoyl peroxide
• Salicylic acid and azelaic acid
• Dapsone (a topical solution to treat inflammatory acne)

Laser Treatment for Acne

Laser treatment for acne typically involves directing an intense light beam to the acne-affected area. The energy from this light gets absorbed into the skin and transforms into heat, destroying oil glands connected to the pores and follicles. This treatment helps reduce the risk of future breakouts.

The machine we use at EuroMed Clinic Dubai for Laser Treatment of Acne is Fotona TwinLight®. It uses ND: Yag laser light, which penetrates the skin and targets overactive sebaceous glands. Not only does this prevent future acne breakouts, but it also accelerates healing.

Chemical Peel

Chemical peeling treatments for acne mostly use salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is known for its comedolytic and anti-inflammatory properties. This peeling solution exfoliates skin cells and unclogs the pores of dirt and oil buildups.

Can acne be cured?

There is no cure for acne. However, several treatments are available to prevent or reduce the occurrence of acne pimples.

What causes acne on the face?

Acne is caused by greasy plugs – a mixture of excess skin oil (sebum), dead skin cells, and dirt. These plugs fill and block hair follicles. These clogged follicles turn into whiteheads, blackheads, or pimples over time.

What does stress acne look like?

Stress acne generally appears as a combination of red bumps, whiteheads, blackheads, and pus-filled pimples.

What foods cause acne?

Foods high in sugar and carbohydrates increase the risk of acne breakouts. Examples of such foods are white rice, white bread, soda, and cake.

How do I know if my acne is hormonal?

Your acne is likely a result of a hormonal activity if it shows the following signs:

• It appears when you are past your teen years
• It occurs around the jawline and chin.
• It happens when you are stressed out.
• Its pimples are deep and painful.
• You experience breakouts at the same time every month.

Can hormonal acne be cured?

You can manage hormonal acne like other forms of acne. Several over-the-counter products are available to help you deal with hormonal acne. You can also take control of this problem and reduce breakouts through lifestyle changes like healthy eating and regular exercise.

How to prevent Acne?

The good news is that you can prevent acne easily through the simple steps mentioned below:

• Keep your face clean: Washing your face twice a day helps remove impurities like extra oil and dead skin cells from your skin.
• Moisturize: Use a noncomedogenic moisturizer to avoid skin dryness.
• Be careful with your makeup: Choose products free of alcohol and oils.
• Avoid touching your face: This will help prevent the spread of bacteria that cause acne.
• Avoid excessive sun exposure: It is generally advised to limit sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to avoid acne. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 before going out.
• Watch your diet: Avoid greasy and junk foods and add fresh vegetables and fruits to your daily diet.

Does pregnancy worsen acne?

Many pregnant women experience acne flare-ups or worsened acne during the first three months of pregnancy. This is when the body has increased hormonal activity, which leads to excess skin oil production. While the acne risk is more significant at this stage, not all pregnant women get spots and blemishes.

Does acne go away naturally?

Acne generally clears up naturally at the end of puberty, but some people may continue to struggle with this problem during adulthood. This persistent acne doesn’t go away on its own but can be managed successfully. It is just a matter of finding an appropriate treatment.

How much does Acne Treatment Cost in Dubai?

The starting price of acne treatment in Dubai is 1450 AED. The final cost of the treatment depends on the following:

• Treatment method
• The severity of the problem
• The geographic location of the clinic
• The expertise of the practitioner

Book a Consultation

EuroMed Clinic Dubai is a state-of-the-art medical cosmetic facility where you can get treatment for all your cosmetic problems, including acne. Our highly skilled staff ensures quality care to help you get a blemish-free skin surface. Please fill out the form below to learn more or book a consultation.

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