Acne is the most common skin disorder globally and has 3 main subtypes, vulgaris being the most common, conglobate and fulminans. It affects more than 80% of adolescents and as many of us know, can occur at any age. What exactly is acne?
The 3 Subtypes:
Acne Vulgaris: This one’s the most common type, characterised by comedones and inflammatory lesions which basically means blackheads and pimples. It’s normal to have little yellow pustules on these and it generally occurs on oily areas.
Luckily these next two are rare, but both are severe, so we strongly recommend seeing your doctor to get a proper diagnosis about these ones!
Conglobate acne: This form of acne generally affects adult males and is characterised by nodules or cyst like acne. It also comes with lots of blackheads and pimples like vulgaris, however, it may result in extensive scarring. If you do start noticing them, best to see the doctor!
Acne fulminans: Easily the scariest and most painful type of acne. It’s characterised by a sudden onset of painful, ulcer like, crusting acne and comes with other nasty symptoms like fever, weight loss, muscle pain and joint pain. This type of acne has mainly been seen in adolescent boys.
Causes
Unfortunately there is no clear answer as to what causes acne. The most common link at present is genetics, which unfortunately we can’t choose. The other link is fluctuating hormones, namely testosterone. This is why it’s mainly seen during puberty and more severe forms in males.
A lot of people say that certain things trigger acne for them, but again that’s a personal experience. Some of these triggers include: Junk food, alcohol, smoking, dairy, medications and environmental factors such as pollution or sun exposure.
While there’s no clear link to say that any of these have a direct effect on acne, they do have evidence showing that avoiding them not only helps with the health of your skin, but your body as a whole.
Treatment
While treatment is generally initiated by a doctor or dermatologist, there are a wide range of both compounded and over the counter products that can be made or recommended. One of our personal favourites is niacinamide.
