Acne
Skin condition characterized by pimples / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Acne, also known as acne vulgaris, is a long-term skin condition that occurs when dead skin cells and oil from the skin clog hair follicles.[10] Typical features of the condition include blackheads or whiteheads, pimples, oily skin, and possible scarring.[1][2][11] It primarily affects skin with a relatively high number of oil glands, including the face, upper part of the chest, and back.[12] The resulting appearance can lead to lack of confidence, anxiety, reduced self-esteem, and, in extreme cases, depression or thoughts of suicide.[3][4]
Acne | |
---|---|
Other names | Acne vulgaris |
Acne vulgaris in an 18-year-old male during puberty | |
Specialty | Dermatology |
Symptoms | Blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, oily skin, scarring[1][2] |
Complications | Anxiety, reduced self-esteem, depression, thoughts of suicide[3][4] |
Usual onset | Puberty[5] |
Risk factors | Genetics[2] |
Differential diagnosis | Folliculitis, rosacea, hidradenitis suppurativa, miliaria[6] |
Treatment | Lifestyle changes, medications, medical procedures[7][8] |
Medication | Azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, antibiotics, birth control pills, co-cyprindiol, retinoids, isotretinoin[8] |
Frequency | 633 million affected (2015)[9] |
Susceptibility to acne is primarily genetic in 80% of cases.[2] The roles of diet and cigarette smoking in the condition are unclear, and neither cleanliness nor exposure to sunlight are associated with acne.[2][13][14] In both sexes, hormones called androgens appear to be part of the underlying mechanism, by causing increased production of sebum.[5] Another common factor is the excessive growth of the bacterium Cutibacterium acnes, which is present on the skin.[15]
Treatments for acne are available, including lifestyle changes, medications, and medical procedures. Eating fewer simple carbohydrates such as sugar may minimize the condition.[7] Treatments applied directly to the affected skin, such as azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid, are commonly used.[8] Antibiotics and retinoids are available in formulations that are applied to the skin and taken by mouth for the treatment of acne.[8] However, resistance to antibiotics may develop as a result of antibiotic therapy.[16] Several types of birth control pills help prevent acne in women.[8] Medical professionals typically reserve isotretinoin pills for severe acne, due to greater potential side effects.[8][17] Early and aggressive treatment of acne is advocated by some in the medical community to decrease the overall long-term impact on individuals.[4]
In 2015, acne affected approximately 633 million people globally, making it the eighth-most common disease worldwide.[9][18] Acne commonly occurs in adolescence and affects an estimated 80–90% of teenagers in the Western world.[19][20][21] Some rural societies report lower rates of acne than industrialized ones.[21][22] Children and adults may also be affected before and after puberty.[23] Although acne becomes less common in adulthood, it persists in nearly half of affected people into their twenties and thirties, and a smaller group continues to have difficulties in their forties.[2]