What is Acne?

Acne is a medical disease caused by the abnormal functioning of the skin cells. There are many hair follicles and oil glands that are present in normal skin. These oil glands can become hyperactive in certain individuals causing acne. The cause of this trigger could be a genetic predisposition, excessive androgen sensitivity, or chronic inflammation.
The clinical forms of acne can be the commonly encountered comedones (blackheads and whiteheads), raised skin lesions such as papules, pustules, and nodules. Cystic acne is a type of acne which harbors excessive inflammation and hence has more chances to leave behind scars. There could also be an overproliferation of P. acnes bacteria in acne skin.

Who all can get Acne?

Acne Treatment in Dwarka

As per Dr. Monica Chahar (an Acne Specialist Doctor in Dwarka), “Acne vulgaris is a medical condition and its estimated lifetime prevalence has been reported to be up to 80%”. The severity of acne could vary among different individuals, some can only manifest small whiteheads and blackheads, however, the rest can have an acute flare of cystic and nodular acne.

Puberty is a common time for acne to begin because of the hormone surge in such times. Teenage acne can and should be managed, which decreases the overall risk of scarring later. Also, the psychosocial effect of such a visible disease in teenagers should not be taken lightly. Acne at any age can be devastating for one’s mental health & confidence and hence, we should refrain from dismissing any concerns raised from acne sufferers despite their severity.

Adult acne could be a continuation of teenage acne or it can arise de novo. The prevalence of acne in adults has been shown to affect women more. It could be because of cosmetics, hormone issues like polycystic ovarian syndrome, or other health concerns and can be effectively diagnosed by a dermatologist. Men can also have acne flares in adulthood.

Hormonal Acne

There has been a surge in acne cases in adult women in the past few years. Many of such cases can be attributed to the changing level of hormones in the body and hence adult female acne should be carefully evaluated.

Clinical Features

Hormonal acne generally presents as new-onset acne in adulthood with a predilection for lower face and neck regions. They can be also accompanied by changes in menstrual cycles/ facial hair but that is not mandatory for the diagnosis. This acne is usually cystic and more painful than conventional acne. Many clinical symptoms and diseases are associated with hormonal imbalances and acne such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Cushing’s Syndrome, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Hyperandrogenism, Insulin Resistance, and Acanthosis Nigricans. Thyroid imbalance and hyperprolactinemia can also exacerbate hormonal acne.

Treatment

At Skin Decor, Best Acne Treatment Clinic in Dwarka, proper screening for hormonal factors should be done in suspected cases of acne. Laboratory investigations may be warranted in such cases based on the doctor's recommendations. Hormonal acne is typically resistant to over-the-counter creams and ointments and your dermatologist will be required for proper guidance. Acne procedures such as Skin Decor’s ACNE CLEAR laser, Carbon facial, LED therapy and medical-grade chemical peeling may be required for better and faster response. Hormonal therapies may also be started based on the individual profile. It is important to note here that even with normal levels of androgens on blood reports, oral hormonal therapy can be considered in women who have clinical symptoms of hormonal acne.

Acne Scars

Acne is one of the diseases which causes significant emotional and mental trauma to the sufferers. Acne scars can potentially increase this effect because of their long-lasting, kind of permanent nature. Indian skin tones are more likely to see these sequelae of acne scars due to our inherent skin type. Inflammation from acne can cause severe tissue destruction and collagen damage resulting in scarring. Acne scars are broadly classified as:

1. Macular: Post acne redness/ flat brownish marks may be there after a bout of inflammatory acne which can be quite persistent.

2. Atrophic: These are the acne scars in which depressions are formed on the skin surface. They can be further subdivided into icepick scars, Boxcars, and rolling scars based on their morphology.

3. Hypertrophic Scars and Keloids: In these acne scars excess tissue is formed resulting from inflammation.

Acne Scar Treatment

Treatment of acne scars depends on a lot of factors. An objective evaluation of the scar type, duration, and severity is a must. Your dermatologist will normally prescribe a combination of treatment procedures to target different types of acne scarring. A combination approach is our usually preferred treatment algorithm for acne scarring for optimal results.

Medical therapy commonly used for acne scars uses products that aim to decrease sun damage and promote new collagen synthesis. Injection therapy could also be used for cystic acne and hypertrophic scars.

The procedural intervention uses a combination of different interventions such as surgical excision, dermal fillers for tissue augmentation, subcision, chemical peels, and our signature ACNE CLEAR laser therapy. Multiple sessions are usually advised by our dermatologist the spacing of which could be 4-6 weeks between each session.

Dr. Monica Chahar recommendad ACNE SKINCARE

Skincare is an important and often overlooked part of an acne treatment regimen. Dr. Monica Chahar specializes in making customized treatment plans for acne sufferers to optimize the treatment efficiency and reduce the side effects in that course. Although this is the most basic part of acne treatment, unfortunately, many people have several misconceptions about acne skincare.
Scrubbing does not help in diminishing acne. So, avoid using abrasive loofahs and harsh scrubs. It is rather going to injure the skin and worsen the condition of acne. A gentle exfoliating cleanser can be used to do away with dead skin cells which can be recommended by the dermatologist as per individual skin type and concerns. Salicylic acid based cleansers are often recommended for acne-prone skin.

Principles of Skin Care

Sun protection

No matter your age or the degree of acne severity, sun protection remains a constant feature in all our acne skin care plans. Irradiation from the sun can cause skin damage and inflammation. The discoloration because of acne can be worsened and more resistant if sun protection is not followed. Acne medications on their own can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, hence in such instances, sun protection becomes even more important.
We recommend a broad-spectrum (blocks both UVA and UVB) sunscreen of SPF 30 and above. It must be labeled as non-comedogenic. It is advised to be applied a few minutes before your estimated sun exposure and reapplication is the norm to provide sustained protection. Re-apply often, especially when exposed to the sun for prolonged periods.

Moisturization

Although it seems counterintuitive for oily and acne-prone skin, moisturizing is an essential step in acne treatment. We recommend a non-comedogenic oil-free moisturizer for our treatment plan. The acne creams are in general drying and not applying a moisturizer can lead to increased irritation and non-compliance with the treatment. This can lead to a decrease in the efficiency of our treatment regimen.

Being patient

The key aspect of acne treatment is strict adherence to the prescribed regimen. Acne treatment typically takes 2-3 months of continued usage to give results, hence it is pertinent that you do not lose hope and stop the treatment or rather change your skincare frequently as it can lead to worsening of our results. We at Skin Decor help you make a plan in accordance with your daily schedule so that you can apply the given treatment and not miss any of the recommendations. We also advise you to keep your prescription handy to reference in case of any doubts.

Make-up

Make-up is commonly characterized as acne triggering and people are often criticized for its use in acne cases. Dr. Monica Chahar understands its importance as an integral part of acne management as it helps to hide the spots till the time acne treatment starts to kick in. We advise safe non-comedogenic acne product recommendations for our patients. We believe it increases their compliance to treatment, boosts their self-esteem, and makes them feel good about themselves. We prefer mineral-based cosmetics for those who wish to use makeup. Another takeaway point is that the products labeled as natural or organic are not always safe or effective as the conventional products. On the other hand, lots of side effects and skin eczema can occur because of such products as they are not that thoroughly tested. Hence, a dermatologist-recommended regimen is always more useful and effective in the long run.

Acne Treatment in Dwarka

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Can adults also have acne?

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