Acne

Acne is a common skin condition that happens when hair follicles under the skin become clogged. Sebum—oil that helps keep skin from drying out—and dead skin cells plug the pores, which leads to outbreaks of lesions, commonly called pimples or zits. Most often, the breakouts occur on the face but can also appear on the back, chest, and shoulders.

We offer Full body skin checks and offer treatment for acne, acne scars, and more. Call us to book your appointment today.

What is acne?

Acne is an inflammatory disorder of the skin, which has sebaceous (oil) glands that connects to the hair follicle, which contains a fine hair. In healthy skin, the sebaceous glands make sebum that empties onto the skin surface through the pore, which is an opening in the follicle. Keratinocytes, a type of skin cell, line the follicle.  Normally as the body sheds skin cells, the keratinocytes rise to the surface of the skin. When someone has acne, the hair, sebum, and keratinocytes stick together inside the pore. This prevents the keratinocytes from shedding and keeps the sebum from reaching the surface of the skin. The mixture of oil and cells allows bacteria that normally live on the skin to grow in the plugged follicles and cause inflammation—swelling, redness, heat, and pain. When the wall of the plugged follicle breaks down, it spills the bacteria, skin cells, and sebum into nearby skin, creating lesions or pimples.

What types of Acne are there?

There are multiple factors that can develop acne or increase the risk of developing acne:

• Excess or high production of oil in the pore.
• Buildup of dead skin cells in the pore.
• Growth of bacteria in the pore
• Hormones. An increase in androgens, which are male sex hormones, may lead to acne. These increase in both boys and girls normally during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy can also cause acne. 
• Family history. Researchers believe that you may be more likely to get acne if your parents had acne.
• Medications. Certain medications, such as medications that contain hormones, corticosteroids, and lithium, can cause acne.
• Age. People of all ages can get acne, but it is more common in teens.

How can I get rid of my acne?

The Dermatology Center of Worcester provides highly effective acne care using the most advanced treatments and medications. Your treatment largely depends on the severity of your breakout. 

The goals of treatment are to help heal existing lesions, stop new lesions from forming, and prevent scarring. Medications can help stop some of the causes of acne from developing, such as abnormal clumping of cells in the follicles, high sebum levels, bacteria, and inflammation. The doctor may recommend over-the-counter or prescription medications to take by mouth or apply to the skin.

Severe acne needs more intensive care than you can get at your local drugstore. The Dermatology Center of Worcester often treats severe and long-lasting acne with Accutane®, a powerful medication containing vitamin A. You can use Accutane under a dermatologist’s close supervision if your acne hasn’t responded to milder treatment.  Other treatments may include antibiotics, oral retinoid, or corticosteroids

To find out more about acne and what you can do to for it, call The Dermatology Center of Worcester or schedule an appointment online today.

*We offer treatments for chemical peels, hydrafacials, botox, and more. Call us to book your appointment today.