Acne vulgaris

Acne is the form of a pimple, it can be papules, pustules, cystic and nodular, white head or blackheads, etc.

It occurs when hair follicles blocked by sebum/oil, dead skin cells, bacterias cause inflammation of the skin and produce acne.

The most affected areas are the face, back and shoulder etc.

Causative factors: 

• Propionibacterium is the most prominent cause of acne vulgaris.
• During puberty: a hormone androgen level increases which cause more secretion of sebum/ oil leads to acne ( physiological hormonal changes).
• Hormonal imbalance due to certain conditions in females like PCOS/PCOD, pregnancy, menstrual cycle and falling oestrogen level may cause acne in females. Stress can cause hormonal and metabolic changes which may cause acne.
• Dietary factors: highly fatty food /oily food can cause acne.
• Over friction or exfoliation causes acne due to irritation of the skin.
• Dirty pillow or bed covers can cause bacterial infection.

Classification and symptoms :

• Mild: whiteheads or blackhead on the face only.
• Moderate: papules and pustules over face and chest come under moderate condition.
• Severe: nodular and cystic acne come under severe form.

Papules: painful reddish pimples called papules.

Pustules: pimples that are reddish painful and with puss at the tip called pustules.

Comedones: whiteheads, blackheads that are not painful.

Nodules: large, painful hard bumpy pimple under the skin.

Cystic: puss-filled and painful lumps under the skin.

Scars and excessive pigmentation of the skin can result from acne.

Risk factors : 

1. PCOS
2.  stress can cause hormonal imbalance.
3. In teenagers, it mostly occurs due to hormonal changes.
4. Over-friction of the skin can cause acne.
5. Over exfoliation may cause acne. A dirty pillow and bed sheet can cause skin infection.

Diagnosis:

•  Diagnosis can be made based on clinical symptoms.
• CBC for anaemic condition.
• Hormonal investigations.
• Ultrasonography for ruling out cystic ovaries.

Management:

• Wash your face with normal water twice a day, once in the morning and at night before sleeping.
• Do not use perfume based products over the skin which may irritate the skin.
• Exfoliation of the skin must be done once a week like scrubbing which helps in removing dead skin from the face that prevents from causing acne. But do not over-exfoliation the skin every day because over-friction can cause injury to the skin and cause acne.
• Apply sunscreen every day before 30 minutes to sun exposure and reapply it after 3-4 hours. Sunscreen should be broad-spectrum and oil-free.
• Oil-free makeup and products should be used.
• Dietary factors:  drink plenty of water.

Avoid sugar or dairy products in severe acne.

Take a healthy nutritional diet and vitamin-c rich fruits.

Homeopathy medicine: 

• Berberis aquifolium
• Hepar sulph
• Radio bromatum
• Juglans R.