Anyone who suffers from acne knows how frustrating it can be with regards to the many different symptoms which can be damaging to one’s self-esteem as well as physically painful. With severe inflammatory acne, the symptoms can be extremely severe and require a fast and effective treatment in order to successfully erase these symptoms.
There are certain people who struggle with treatment of this particular skin condition for months or even years before start to see results, which is why it is important to get started looking for a solution as soon as possible.
What is Acne Conglobata?
There are multiple types of acne and each of them has their own level of severity and symptoms. Acne conglobata or cystic acne as it is sometimes called, is considered to be among the more serious types of acne because of the cysts that form beneath the skin.
While the more common acne vulgaris which is frequently seen in teenagers isn’t quite so serious, this type of acne requires special attention. It affects millions of people from all over and can very easily cause scars which tend to last for years until they are treated in some way.
Acne Conglobata Causes
With so many people suffering from this type of acne, it is important to come up with an answer as to why it forms on the skin in the first place. This type of acne as well as most others forms due to an excessive amount of oils in the pores of the skin.
When these oils accumulate in the pores, they can become infected with bacteria which cause the redness, inflammation, and irritation which many people are all too familiar with. While the exact cause of acne does vary from person to person, it usually forms because of a bacterial infection because of excess sebum buildup.
How Does Acne Conglobata Present on the Skin?
This particular type of acne usually appears on the chest, neck, upper arms, face, and buttocks. Although these areas are the most common for cystic acne, it can appear anywhere on the body where there is skin. You will find that this type of acne usually presents in distinct groups of two or three and they grow larger until they finally pop, releasing malodorous pus.
One of the reasons that cystic acne is considered to be so serious is because of the fact that deep ulcers can form under the nodules which appear as well as abscesses which can leave deep scars on the skin.
Acne Conglobata Treatment
The primary treatment for this type of acne is still isotretinoin which is a derivative of vitamin A and marketed as “Accutane”. Doctors usually only feel comfortable prescribing this very powerful medication if the acne on the person’s skin has not responded well to other methods of treatment.
It is generally viewed as a last resort but has proven to be extremely effective. Accutane is an oral medication which is taken for anywhere from 15-30 weeks and just one course has shown to produce remarkable results in certain people.
One of the reasons that Accutane is such a popular treatment for more serious types of acne such as this is because it works well to reduce the amount of oil which is produced by certain glands in the body which can lead to clogged pores.
There are some side-effects which you will want to be aware of before taking this medication though, such as a dry nose, dry skin, and cracked lips as well as possible aching in the joints and muscles. The side-effects vary from person to person and may not be severe at all.
Prevention of Acne Conglobata
Preventing this type of acne can be quite challenging for a number of reasons, including the fact that it is one of the more severe and stubborn forms of acne. One of the best things you will be able to do to prevent your acne from worsening and breakouts from becoming more frequent is to keep your skin as clean as possible.
Often time’s doctors will say that the only way to prevent acne conglobata is to take Accutane or a similar medication which will help to treat the condition itself and reduce the amount of swelling/inflammation which you are currently experiencing.
It will of course be important to make certain that you speak with a dermatologist about what you will be able to do about your condition. The more you learn the better, so speak with a licensed physician who specializes in matters of the skin.
A dermatologist will be able to prescribe you the proper medication which will ideally reduce the inflammation, redness, and other symptoms which are associated with this kind of acne. Although there is no universal medication that works well for everyone with this type of acne, it is still very important to make sure you know what your options are.
