Acne is a skin condition caused due to the clogging of hair follicles by oil and dead skin cells. Clogged follicles can lead to the development of whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples that appear predominantly on the forehead, face, chest, shoulders, and upper back. It is not just a common phenomenon amongst teenagers but also occurs in adults of all age groups. While there are quite a lot of effective treatments available, acne is persistent and takes time to heal. Based on the severity of acne, one may face emotional distress or skin scarring. The best course of action is to start treatment at the first sign of acne to ensure that it does not become severe.

Causes and symptoms
There are four main factors which are known to cause acne, and these include excess oil production in the skin, bacteria, clogging of hair follicles due to oil and dead skin cells, and excess activity of androgens (a type of hormone).

The signs and symptoms of acne vary and depend on the severity of an individual’s condition. The common symptoms include whiteheads (closed clogged pores), blackheads (open clogged pores), small and tender bumps (known as papules), papules which have a pus formation at the tips (pustules), formation of solid and large lumps under the skin’s surface which are painful (nodules), and pus-filled lumps under the skin’s surface which cause pain (cystic lesions).

When do you have to consult a doctor for acne?
You can start with some over-the-counter remedies and beauty products to deal with acne. But if the acne is persistent and gets aggravated with such treatments, it is advisable to consult a primary care doctor. They will prescribe medications that can reduce the severity of acne and help with the healing process. In case the acne worsens and needs additional attention, then it is best to meet a dermatologist.

In the case of most women, acne is persistent and keeps recurring for decades, with flare-ups that occur roughly a week before menstruation. In these cases, acne clears up without treatment due to the use of contraceptives. If there is a sudden onset of acne in older adults, it could be a sign of an underlying disease which probably requires immediate medical attention.

There have been repeated warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that certain popular non-prescription skin products like lotions and cleansers can lead to severe reactions that may affect the health of individuals. But these types of extreme reactions are quite rare and should not be confused with the common redness, itchiness, or irritation may occur when you apply medication or acne treatment products.

You need to reach out for emergency aid immediately in case the use of any skin care product leads to difficulty with breathing, fainting, tightness in the throat, or swelling of the lips, tongue, eyes, or face.