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 What is Acne?
Acne develops as a result of a number of changes that occur in your body and specifically in the pores of your skin (follicles).
Normally, the dead skin cells in your hair follicles are shed gradually by your body. When you have acne, these cells become “sticky” and start to plug up your hair follicles. Your oil glands produce the right amount of a greasy substance called sebum. However, at certain times such as puberty, they produce excess sebum. When you have acne, this excess sebum gets stuck behind the plug in the hair follicle. A plugged follicle is called a microcomedone or lesion.
When the microcomedone becomes bigger, it becomes a whitehead or, if the air touches the surface of the plug, it becomes a blackhead.
As your acne progresses, there will be other changes. Your plugged follicle can swell and break, turning into a visible red bump. This is a pimple. When a pimple becomes bigger and fills with pus, it is called a pustule.
All of these types of acne lesions (whiteheads, blackheads, pimples and pustules), can vary in size and number and can appear on the face as well as the back, chest and shoulders.
As you can see, acne is caused by a number of interacting factors. That’s why your doctor may prescribe more than one medication to treat the different factors.
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How to Manage Acne
Acne can be managed with the proper medication or a combination of medications. There are several prescription treatments, both topical and oral, that are highly effective in treating the different types of acne. If you have tried OTC treatments (the ones you buy in drugstores) with limited success, it may be time to see a dermatologist.
If you are using creams, gels or lotions, it is important to cover the entire affected area (don’t just spot-treat), as the medication may help prevent new pimples from forming. It is also important to follow the instructions for applying these treatments, since using too much of the product will not help your skin get better faster and may lead to irritation.
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What to Expect
Effective acne therapy takes patience and perseverance. No medication — topical or oral — will work overnight. It may take 12 weeks for you to begin to see major improvement. Your doctor can help you understand how the process works and when you can expect to see results.
Depending on the medication, you may experience some minor irritation or dryness. In most cases, this will go away as your skin becomes accustomed to the treatment. A non-comedogenic moisturizer (one that won’t clog your pores) may be helpful to manage any dryness that may occur.
As acne is related to hormonal changes in the body, it may continue to appear over many years. You may also notice that it gets better — and worse — over certain periods of time. Following your doctor’s advice and a good treatment plan can help you manage your acne and keep your skin clear.
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The Galderma website is not intended to promote the use of Galderma products or to provide information on which to base medical treatment. Please consult a dermatologist or other healthcare professional for more information about your condition and the product that is right for you.
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