Acne Dermatologist Primer

Acne is a chronic disorder of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands. It can affect ninety-nine percent of individuals at one point or another in their lifetime. Getting the treatment for your acne is the most important aspect of dealing with it. When you are being faced with problematic acne, you likely need to see an acne dermatologist.

An acne dermatologist is a physician that specializes in skin care relating to acne problems and will be certified by the American Board of Dermatology. Your acne dermatologist will be extensively trained to help treat these problems and will be able to assist in keeping skin healthy. We discuss finding the right dermatologist for your acne problem in our article How to Pick the Right Dermatologist.

Different Types of Acne Treated by Dermatologists

Something you will want to keep in mind is that when it comes to acne is that not all acne is the same. It does not always affect two different people in the same way. The acne that dermatologists treat will often range from cases that are mild to moderate to cases that are severe. The most common form of acne, Acne Vulgaris, for instance, is  characterized by blackheads, white heads, papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts.

Mild and Moderate Acne

Blackheads, white heads, papules, and pustules are the forms of Acne Vulgaris that fall under the mild to moderate category. A black head, which is black in color due to a reaction from melanin and air, forms when a pore has become partially blocked, allowing trapped oil and bacteria to drain to the surface. Whiteheads form as a result of completely blocked pores that trap oil and bacteria and cause a white appearance on the surface of the skin, and appear to have “infection” inside them.

Papules are red, inflamed and tender bumps that should never be squeezed because they can cause scarring. Lastly, a pustule is inflamed and appears as a red circle most often having either a yellow or white center. The severe cases of Acne Vulgaris include nodules and cysts. A nodule consists of an acne blemish that is often larger, extremely painful, and can last for months. A cyst is very similar to a nodule but is puss filled.

Severe Acne

There are four types of severe acne, which (fortunately) are less prevalent than milder forms of the condition. These different types of acne are Acne Conglobata, Acne Fulminans, Gram-NegativeFolliculitis, and Pyoderma Faciale.

• Acne Conglobata is the most severe form and is seen more often in males between the ages of eighteen and thirty. It causes large lesions and numerous blackheads. It has the ability to cause severe damage to the skin and has also been known to cause disfiguring scarring. It is usually found on the face, chest, back, buttocks, upper arms, and thighs.
• Acne Fulminans is an abrupt onset of acne conglobata that typically will only affect young men. It too can cause disfiguring scarring and also presents symptoms of fever and aching joints.
• Gram-Negative Folliculitis is a bacterial infection that is most often seen characterized by pustules and cysts. It is though to occur from a complication with long term antibiotic treatment for acne vulgaris.
• Pyoderma Faciale is a form of severe facial acne that only affects females typically between the ages of twenty to forty years of age. It is characterized by large, painful nodules, pustules and sores.

Treating  Troublesome Acne

Treatment for acne is usually an ongoing process. Acne treatments typically work by preventing new breakouts from occurring. It is a process that takes time because existing blemishes are required to heal on their own.  Dermatologists will often prescribe treatments such as topical and oral medication. Some topical formulations that are often prescribed include topical creams, gels, or lotions. These typically include vitamin A, acid-like remedies, benzoyl peroxide, or antibiotics that aid in unblocking pores.

Some special treatments for acne include acne surgery, microdermabrasion, light chemical peels, and injections of corticosteroids. Oral antibiotics that are prescribed include tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, or erythromycin. Birth control pills are often used for women to control and treat acne.

It is always important to keep in mind that not matter how difficult it may be to deal with acne you are not alone, there are others that have the same problems you do and there are ways to help.