Can being in the sun improve my acne?
There is no evidence that sunlight improves acne. Sunlight can do more harm than good as it leads to early ageing and increases your risk of skin cancer. Many medications used to treat acne can actually make your skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light. Rather follow one of the many proven treatment programmes. |
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Do only teenagers get acne?
No. Rarely, babies are born with acne and some people get acne for the first time after they’ve reached adulthood. Most people outgrow acne; but in women it may last until the menopause. |
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Do sweating and humidity make acne worse?
Both of these can make acne worse - for the same reason. Both sweating and humidity can cause hydration and swelling of the ductal blockages, which can precipitate the inflammatory phase of acne. |
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Does stress cause acne?
No. Stress doesn't cause acne but it can aggravate it. It is, of course, possible that the acne itself could cause stress! But generally, if the acne is being treated properly, stress should not have much of an impact. |
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Can other medication make my acne worse?
Yes. Many medicines, especially corticosteroids and anti-epilepsy drugs, can aggravate your acne. If you think a drug is making your acne worse, never stop taking it without discussing it with your doctor first. |
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How many people have acne?
Acne is the most common skin disease and affects about 90% of all teenagers. Acne in babies is uncommon and some people develop acne for the first time after they have reached adulthood. Five percent of women older than 40 may still be troubled by acne. Only 1% of men in a similar age group have acne. |
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How often should I clean my skin?
Hand wash skin twice a day with a mild soap, pat dry, and use appropriate acne treatment. Remember that acne is not caused by dirt or surface oil. |
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What must I do if I forget to take my oral medication?
An easy way to remember to take your medication, is to associate it with a routine daily event such as brushing your teeth. Keep your medication next to your toothbrush or on the breakfast table. |
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Is acne caused by dirt?
No, it isn't. The black of blackheads is due to the pigment of the plug of cells blocking the hair duct. In fact, people with acne wash their faces more often than people who don't. |
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Is it true that acne becomes worse before periods?
Many women have noticed that their acne flares up in the two - seven days before the onset of their periods. This is largely due to the changes in their hormone levels at this stage in the menstrual cycle. |
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What is the correct, medical term for acne?
The medical term is acne vulgaris. The word “vulgaris” means “common” or “usual”. |
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What can make acne worse?
Some of the factors are:
- Changing hormone levels in adolescent girls and adult women two to seven days before their menstrual period starts
- Friction caused by leaning on or rubbing the skin
- Pressure from bike helmets, backpacks, or tight collars
- Environmental irritants, such as pollution and high humidity
- Squeezing or picking at blemishes
- Hard scrubbing of the skin
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What are the causes of acne?
No-one knows exactly what causes acne, but doctors believe it results from several factors. It is partly a result of the ability to convert testosterone to dihydrotestosterone in the sebaceous gland due to the presence of the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase.
Hormonal changes in pregnancy or when starting or stopping birth control pills can also cause acne. Acne also tends to run in families and certain drugs are known to cause acne.
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What's acne?
Acne is the most common skin disorder. It is a chronic inflammatory disease of the sebaceous hair follicles. Each follicle contains a fine hair and many sebaceous glands (the skin’s oil glands).
Under normal circumstances, sebum, the oily substance made by the sebaceous glands, travels up the hair follicle and out to the skin’s surface. However, with acne, sebum is trapped within the follicle and skin bacteria multiply within the clogged pores. Acne develops on those areas of the skin where sebaceous glands are most numerous: the face, scalp, neck, chest, back, and upper arms and shoulders.
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What should I avoid?
- greasy (oily) cosmetics, namely preparations that leave your face shiny following application
- antiseptic soaps
- antiseptic scrubs
- granular scrubs (such as Brasivol®)
- exfoliating implements (such as Buff-Puff)
- topical cortisone - containing preparations (such as Neo-Medrol lotion®)
- squeezing of skin lesions
- scratching of skin lesions
- picking of skin lesions
All the above may aggravate acne. |
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When should I see a doctor?
When you feel that you need help
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If my acne has cleared up, can I stop using my medication?
Never stop on your own – always ask your doctor or dermatologist first. If you stop your medication too soon, or even if you change the dose, your acne might flare up again. |
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Who should I see to treat acne?
A good first step is to see your family doctor. If your doctor thinks you need further treatment, he or she may refer you to a dermatologist. A dermatologist is a doctor who received further training to specialise in treating skin disorders.
If you feel that acne is affecting your mood, personality or social life, it may be a good idea to ask your doctor to refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist.
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