Acne is a disease that needs to be treated. Acne, which affects 80% of the population at some point in their lives, is not a condition specific to adolescence, contrary to popular belief. It does not go away on its own after adolescence. Acne needs to be treated. Because;
* Having acne negatively affects a person's appearance and reduces a person's self-confidence. According to research, acne is among the top diseases that negatively affect the quality of life.
* As acne passes, it leaves stains and scars. Blemishes and scars are often more difficult to treat. Sometimes it is not possible to completely eliminate it.
* Acne can be seen with some diseases. Polycystic ovary syndrome, hidradenitis suppurativa, pilonoidal sinus and sacroiliitis are some of them.
Acne is most commonly seen on the face. It can also be seen on the back, chest area, shoulders, upper arms and hips.
At the beginning of adolescence, when the adrenal glands start to work, black spots (open comedones) begin to appear in the middle part of the face, especially in the nose, forehead and chin area. These are sometimes accompanied by white spots (closed comedones) that appear better when the skin is stretched. Later, with the functioning of the ovaries and testicles, other symptoms of acne begin to appear. The severity of acne may vary between individuals and may also vary over time in the same person.
Having an acne history or acne scars in the mother and/or father are important clues about the severity of acne and how it will progress.
Acne is not a condition specific to adolescence. Although it is most common in young adults, it can also be seen in people in their 30s and 40s.
Acne is a condition that needs to be treated. Treatment is planned after acne severity is graded by your dermatologist. Your age, how long you have had acne, the acne treatments you have used before, the skin care products you are currently using, your other treatments and make-up selection, your menstrual cycle, whether you are prone to hair growth, hair loss and/or weight gain, your medication and food habits are effective in choosing the treatment.
Most acne is treated with medications such as cream/gel/lotion applied to the skin, which we call topical. It takes 4-8 weeks for acne to start decreasing and disappearing. This is why It is essential to be patient and use medications regularly. Gently washing the facial area twice a day with appropriate cleansers does not cure acne, but increases the effectiveness of drug treatments. Therefore, it is the first step and it is important. It may be necessary to use oral medications to treat severe acne. In addition to the medications you use during acne treatment, your dermatologist may perform applications such as chemical peeling, light and laser treatments, and light cautery.
Tips for dealing with acne;
1. Wash your face gently with your fingertips twice a day (morning and evening) and immediately after sweating, with a suitable cleanser, without rubbing or brushing your skin.
2. When choosing a cleanser, choose cleansers that do not irritate your skin and do not contain alcohol and are suitable for the skin pH. Avoid cleansers with astringent, tonic and exfoliative (peeling) effects.
3. Wash your hair regularly, if your hair is oily, you can wash it every day.
4. Keep your hands away from your face.
5. Stay away from the sun and solarium. Contrary to popular belief, sun rays and solarium do not dry out your acne, they only camouflage it, and after 1-2 months, there will be an increase/flare in acne.
6. It is very important that you use the medications prescribed by your dermatologist regularly, as recommended. Acne medications may cause redness, peeling and irritation on the skin. In this case, do not stop taking the medication and seek help from your doctor to reduce these negative effects.
7. Acne medications are not used only when or on acne. When used regularly, it prevents new acne from appearing. Therefore, it is necessary to use it regularly on the entire face area and be patient for the result.
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