Severe Acne: Characteristics, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Severe acne occurs when skin problems become disturbed and much more complex, with large pustules and bumps. You can also see how it spreads through the body, appearing in areas such as the arms, back, buttocks and of course, the face.

It appears very frequently , and its consequence is so great that it is always recommended to attend a specialist so that he can dictate the necessary treatment.

Severe acne, how is it detected? How to combat it?

Normally, severe acne usually appears in young men from 15 to 20 years old, all those who suffer from severe acne have the possibility not only of having scars on the skin, but also in their emotional life. It tends to decrease security and self-esteem when there is really a lot of damage.

Severe acne can disfigure the face, leaving large scars and deep dimples . Normally, to correct this, isotretinoin treatments are needed, which thanks to its effectiveness has become the practical solution for this type of laceration.

Characteristics of severe acne

There are several characteristics depending on the severity of acne:

Grade I:

• Microcomedones not visible with a little scaling.
• Closed comedones.
• Open comedones.

Grade II:

• Superficial papules or pustules.
• Deep pustules.
• Nodules

Grade III:

• Nodules
• Residual injuries.

Causes of severe acne

There are several causes that can lead to severe acne:

• Infected hair follicles is one of the most common causes that can lead to severe acne.
• Hormones is a specific cause that occurs during puberty, increasing the amount of sebum in the skin, so much that it can reach excess, causing the follicles to become infected and room for acne bacteria.
• Family traits are important, since if the parents have suffered from acne, it is most likely that their child may suffer from the same.
• Hormonal disorders are not the same as changes, in the case of women a polycystic syndrome can occur that causes acne to appear gradually until it worsens.
• Steroids and other drugs can cause severe acne as a side effect.

Get more information on hormonal acne

Symptoms of severe acne

There are several symptoms that can appear on the skin when severe acne is about to appear. These are the common symptoms:

• Black pimples.
• Scabs with skin rashes.
• Small, red bumps.
• Pustules
• Scars on the skin.
• Redness around the skin rashes.

Severe acne pathologies

This pathological process is a formation of a pustule on the surface of the skin, or in the same way the appearance of a cyst. The plugged follicles are in the skin in an open way, this causes pimples to be created.

Sebum is normally responsible for carrying dead cells to the surfaces of the skin, when there is an excess these pimples are created that end up being the new growth of severe acne on the skin.

Areas of the body where severe acne can appear

When acne is severe it can spread throughout the body , and when this happens it has a clear reason why it spreads to the specific area.

1. Jawbone: these are generally hormonal problems or from consuming sugar in large quantities. Excess oil can be a big common cause of these pimples appearing in this area.
2. Shoulders: usually caused by stress or a lot of emotional sensitivity, it can damage the area and make it very sensitive to any type of contact.
3. Chest: normally a bad diet or poor digestion cause this type of problem in this area. This area is attributed in the same way consuming high amounts of cold drinks or consuming overly spicy foods.
4. Arms: appear when there is a great failure with the consumption of vitamins, poor circulation and an excess of dead cells, it can usually be eradicated thanks to a scrub or pills.
5. Abdomen: in this area there are almost no sebaceous glands, in case there is acne in the area it may be due to very tight clothing.
6. Pelvic area: ingrown hairs and poor hygiene are the main cause why acne can appear and spread to this specific area. Causing the appearance of ingrown hairs and irritation.
7. Legs: pimples in this area can be caused by tight clothing, a poor shave, poor hygiene, or an allergy to a topical agent that is used regularly, such as shaving cream, wax, or moisturizers.
8. Back: it is one of the most common areas where acne can appear. Normally, stress, poor hygiene, and nervousness can increase the chance of this occurring.
9. Buttocks: the use of tight clothing, dry skin, or a malfunction of the digestive process can damage health considerably.

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Women and severe acne

Many studies have determined that acne appears in women usually in their adolescent stage . Many women tend to secrete a large amount of sebum, making acne appear much more easily.

In the same way, when you have severe acne, you run the risk of suffering a large amount of hair all over the body , generally on the upper lip. Weight and nicotine consumption can be big problems for this area.

When you are over 25 years of age and you have acne there may be a hormonal change that produces it, having an unusual amount of male hormones such as testosterone in the blood.

Do contraceptives cause severe acne?

No, the opposite is actually the case . Many contraceptives inhibit the production of oil in the skin. This means that there are no clogged hair follicles that can cause an infection that promotes the appearance of acne.

There are many birth control pills that are normally used as an acne eradication treatment . Once the treatment begins, it is normal to be able to see how new eruptions continue to appear, however, as the treatment continues, they gradually fade away.

During the contraceptive treatment you should not consume alcohol , you should not be breastfeeding or pregnant, contraceptives may be the best solution that women can have.

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Do men suffer from severe acne?

More than 25% of severe acne cases belong to both adult and adolescent men. In them, acne can be very difficult to treat, since they have a large amount of sebum to be produced on the skin.

Being men they have a large amount of male hormones that help to increase the production of sebum more and more, when it is clogged in large quantities , severe acne occurs on the face. Exercising can cause these hormones to increase, which is why you will always find yourself at the disadvantage of acne.

Diet, stress, shaving and the sun are common factors that can cause men, whether they are adults or teenagers, to constantly suffer from severe acne on the face.

What is severe juvenile acne?

This is an exaggerated inflammation of small bumps where the root of the hairs is located. Severe acne can affect at least 80% of adolescents, and its characteristics occur when there are blackheads, papules, pustules, pus-filled cysts.

When there is a much more serious form, the lesions can be really deep, which can become infected, all this due to the hormonal change , bacteria and the large amounts of sebum that can be produced during the puberty stage.

The normal treatment that can be used is through antibiotics, in case there is a large amount of infection. A three-month treatment will be what is necessary to be able to eliminate almost or completely all this acne.

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Pregnancy and severe acne

Something in common that pregnancy and acne have is that normally during this stage there is a large number of hormonal changes , in the same way this means that the skin can have several changes, including the appearance of acne.

When the woman is pregnant, the levels of androgen hormones are increased, which circulate in the body and stimulate the sebaceous glands, which increases the amount of sebum in it, obstructing the hair follicles.

Depending on the woman and the amount of hormones and sebum, it can be a light acne or a very severe acne , happening at any stage of pregnancy, that is, it can occur at the beginning, at the end, in the middle or during the entire period gestation.

Babies can get severe acne, why?

When they are young they can suffer neonatal acne , because their skin at this moment from birth is full of an oily substance and their hormones have not been fully regulated.

However, suffering from totally severe acne is not usually very likely , it must be a really extreme case for this to occur. It is usually basic to see small pimples and redness in areas such as the back, arms, neck and face.

A little itching in the area can be quite uncomfortable for the infant, but with some cream or natural elements you can quickly relieve acne .

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During breastfeeding, can you suffer from severe acne?

Before and after childbirth, the hormones continue to change , while the body returns to its normal state, there is still a great production of male hormones.

After childbirth, these hormones descend , causing a great amount of dryness in the skin, so it is normal that the possible acne that has appeared over time makes it disappear little by little.

Menopause and severe acne

Again, hormones have a lot to do with this . Testosterone appears again in menopausal women, with this, sebum production increases, causing the follicles to block from so much accumulated sebum.

During the menopausal age, apart from changes in mood and temperature, all types of acne can appear on the face, back and chest, with severe redness and the appearance of pustules and cysts that can be a serious problem.

Stress can cause severe acne. How? Why?

Stress is produced thanks to a hormone called cortisol, in turn cortisol increases the oiliness of the skin , this causes sebum to increase, producing acne to the point of making it more and more serious.

The longer they are subjected to stressful situations, the more sweat and sebum will be produced on the skin, so it is recommended to seek relaxation for at least 5 minutes three or four times a day.

Using natural elements such as lavender, vanilla and chamomile can help reduce stress little by little and therefore acne begins to disappear much faster.

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Severe acne scars

There are several types of scars that can appear on the body or face when you have severe acne:

• Hypertrophic and keloid scars: they are usually a little pink, they tend to exceed the margins where the wound is located. They are often seen on the back or earlobe due to very severe inflammatory acne. It can cause some pain and some itching.
• Truck scars: can be seen as shallow or very deep holes. The buds that are there are usually very sharp. They usually appear on the face, temple, and cheeks.
• Ice pick scars: These are usually deep point holes, with a diameter no larger than 2 mm. They are usually seen on the cheeks.
• Wavy Scars: They are really small and smooth and are based on a very regular shape and texture. It is best seen when it is against the light.

How does isotretinoin help against severe acne?

It is a well-known drug that can help eliminate the production of the sebaceous glands , and over time gradually thin the skin. It is a very popular healing treatment that is generally used to fight acne.

It is normally used to help acne be eradicated in about six months, and there are many medications to treat this same problem that are derived from this type of inconvenience. Being one of the most effective and popular that can be in the market.

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Menstruation and severe acne

Before and during menstruation, many acne breakouts  can appear on the face. All this due to the hormonal changes that pimples reveal. Depending on the severity of the changes, you can suffer from mild acne or, failing that, quite severe acne, hormones act differently in each woman, so you never know when it may be normal acne or severe acne.

For the last days of the period, the acne should disappear, but in the case of very severe acne , a specialist should be attended . They usually prescribe contraceptives to be able to counteract the effects of hormones on the skin, eliminating acne little by little.

Makeup and severe acne

There are many women who use makeup to hide the severe acne they may have, however they are often unaware that cosmetics for the face can in turn generate a type of acne that is quite common.

It is called cosmetic acne and it is usually caused by certain ingredients used to create makeup or creams, it can manifest itself through many breakouts of a flesh color. Even this type of acne can affect those who have never suffered from a problem with acne on their skin.

If this type of acne is not treated in time it can become more serious , so it is necessary to look for suitable makeup that adapts to the skin and does not cause any type of damage.

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How does doxycycline help against severe acne?

A very effective remedy to combat severe acne is Doxycycline, as it can treat the most serious and complicated cases of pimples, lesions and redness on the skin. The dermatologist is the one who must apply the order of treatment and the daily dose.

Doxycycline has the ability to resist the bacteria that cause acne, it is normally recommended to consume 100 mg 2 times a day, specifically in the morning and at night before sleeping. Treatment should last in most cases about 7 days, or as indicated by the doctor.

Children and adolescents are not allowed to use this type of medicine . It is not recommended to use this drug for mild acne, it is necessary that there is severe acne on the skin, to administer Doxycycline as a treatment.

Severe or cystic acne

Severe or cystic acne is one of the most serious types of acne that can be, usually suffered from youth to adulthood. It is a very serious condition as it not only suffers from pain but also leaves a lot of scars.

There is no clear cause why acne becomes so severe, it is only known that it is possibly   due to the clogged pores full of dirt and bait that cause pimples, cysts and blackheads in different areas of the face or body.

Luckily, there are several pills and medications that can help after a treatment of long months to culminate with this problem, although when it comes to this acne it is not guaranteed that the skin will return to the same as before.

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Severe acne vs hormonal acne

Many people attribute its appearance to acne for being hormonal , and when there are hormonal changes for different reasons, acne can appear on the face. But in reality once it manifests it can be remedied without being so serious.

This will depend on hygiene, cleaning and the treatment that is had, if there is no treatment as soon as possible, the most common is that this acne gets worse easily . Starting treatment as soon as acne appears is the best way to prevent acne from becoming more serious.

What to eat if you have severe acne

Food has always been an important factor in improving health , especially since it often reflects the condition of our body. When you have severe acne, it is necessary to be able to eat a balanced diet to maintain a healthy body and skin.

Food is really important to prevent acne, it can cause a great hormonal response in the body , regulating the appearance of rashes on the skin. Those are some examples of the diet that should be followed:

• Reduce dairy: Many studies have found that the presence of dairy can cause hormones to cause sebum to appear in greater amounts.
• Low glycemic carbohydrates: in carbohydrates you can find sweets, flours, pastries and sugars, these are high glycemic content. But vegetables, grains, legumes, and greens can help regulate hormones. If there is a high glycemic index, the greater the hormonal alteration.

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Severe acne, can it be cured?

As such, severe acne has no cure , however it can be treated gradually using the right medications. It should be borne in mind that when it is severe acne it is a really strong skin infection.

Typically characterized by large pustules, papules, and many scars, these can worsen over time if the necessary medications are not taken. Good treatment can end redness , pimples, and acne as such. But the scars will be something that is not going to be removed. It is likely that it will reappear after a while.

Drug treatment for severe acne

There are a large number of drugs that are used to treat severe acne, these usually fall into several classes and are sold around the world. It was estimated that the market for acne drugs can move about 10 million dollars .

These are the most important drugs :

1. Topical retinoids for acne: these are chemicals that come from vitamin A, they bind to the skin, stimulating and renewing cells, in this way the production of sebum is decreased, reducing the probability of acne appearing. Creams containing retinoids are applied once a day, preferably before sleeping.
2. Topical antibiotics against acne: When acne is inflammatory, antibiotics are recommended to prevent the reproduction of bacteria. The most used are benzoyl, azelaic acid and clindamycin.
3. Oral antibiotics against acne: these are the most widely used medications, with severe acne it is much more advisable to use pills since they are usually much more effective than topical ones.
4. Hormonal Acne Treatments: Hormonal drugs are really good for dealing with acne, they are great treatments that can allow the male hormones to drop, making the sebum less.

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Laser surgery

Laser surgery is a fast and effective way for you to get rid of acne quickly. However, one of the problems that usually occurs is that this type of treatment can be a bit expensive and not everyone has the ability to pay for this type of face treatment.

The laser treatment corresponds to a large number of sessions depending on the severity of the acne and the receptivity of the skin. These are responsible for destroying the sebaceous glands that are responsible for making the skin oily.

In the same way, there is the blue light treatment , which is responsible for eliminating all acne bacteria, in this way not only gets rid of bacteria but also to restore the skin of scars and make them much less visible.

Natural Treatments to Relieve Severe Acne

There are good natural treatments for severe acne that can help eliminate all types of acne on the skin , in this way it will be much more effective to heal the affected skin.

Here are some natural treatments that can be applied to combat severe acne:

• Baking soda: this has the ability to act as an exfoliator on the skin, unblocking the pores and removing dead cells that may be on the face. You should mix two tablespoons of baking soda, a teaspoon of cinnamon, the juice of half a lemon and five tablespoons of honey. Once well mixed, it is applied to the face for about five minutes and should be washed with plenty of cold water.

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• Papaya: eliminates dead cells and excess lipids that may be in the skin, eliminates the well and leaves the skin soft and smooth. You have to mash the papaya until it is like a cream. It is applied to the skin for about 20 minutes and rinsed off with plenty of warm water. Then apply a moisturizer on the face.
• Apple cider vinegar: can help kill bacteria and balance the pH in the skin. It also allows you to remove excess oil and prevent new acne from appearing on the face. You have to wash your face with water and dry. Then mix 1 cup of cider vinegar with 3 of water. With the help of a cotton ball, apply to the lesions and leave for 10 minutes overnight, then rinse.
• Lemon juice: thanks to its vitamin C it allows the skin to be exfoliated, it is an astringent for the skin, causing the lesions to dry out, it also removes stains as it bleaches the skin. Wash your face well before applying the lemon, then rub it over your face and let it sit for a few hours. Rinse your face with plenty of lukewarm water.
• Orange peels: Like lemon, orange peels can work very well. It should be ground in a blender with a little water until a paste is created. When it has the desired consistency, it should be applied to the face, wait about 25 minutes and rinse well. Finally apply a moisturizing cream.
• Green tea: it has a large amount of antioxidants that help improve the condition of the skin, green tea should be prepared in a cup of boiling water. Let it rest for about 5 minutes and proceed to strain. It is used with a spray bottle and sprayed on the face or with a cotton ball on the affected area.

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• Banana peels: the peel is applied from the inside and rubbed into the skin, left to rest for 30 minutes and then rinsed with plenty of water. This has the ability to reduce swelling and inflammation, as well as promoting the production of new cells in the face.
• Honey and cinnamon: separately they have great characteristics to heal many conditions. When the two come together they have the ability to be an excellent product for treating acne. Since it works as a natural antibiotic, these two should be mixed until you have a type of paste, then it should be applied to the face and let it rest for half an hour. Finally wash with plenty of water.
• Honey and milk: this combination can help with irritated skin, and decrease the redness of the skin. You should mix 1 tablespoon of milk and one of honey and then apply to the face. Let it rest for about 15 minutes and then wash your face.

Masks

There are a large number of face masks that can help fight acne . These are some of the most popular:

1. Lemon mask: a base is made with lemon juice and a well beaten egg white. It is placed on the face and you must wait about 10 minutes. Remove with a large amount of room temperature water.
2. Aspirin mask: crushed and diluted in water, applied to the face in the affected area and left to act for about 15 minutes. After this time it must be removed with water.
3. Strawberry mask: you must crush five strawberries with an egg white and a tablespoon of honey. Beat until you have a paste and then apply it on your face. It is left to act for about 20 minutes and is removed with plenty of water.
4. Aloe vera mask: 100 grams of aloe should be added, and a tablespoon of wheat germ with some water. The skin must be moist, apply it and leave it to act until it dries. It is removed with plenty of water.
5. Oatmeal mask: it is prepared with yogurt, lemon juice and a tablespoon of oatmeal. Mix and let it rest until dry. It is removed with plenty of water at room temperature.

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