What does acne vulgaris mean?

What does acne vulgaris look like?

Acne affects hair follicles and their attached oil glands, most often on the face. The neck, chest, shoulders and upper back can also be affected. Several kinds of spots can appear together, so acne does not have to look like a collection of red pimples. Doctors call plugged follicles comedones.1245

• Whiteheads are plugged follicles that stay closed beneath the skin.
• Blackheads are plugged follicles that open at the surface. Their dark colour comes from changes when the contents meet air, not dirt.
• Papules are small, inflamed bumps that can feel tender.
• Pustules are inflamed bumps topped with white or yellow pus.
• Nodules are large, painful, solid lumps deep in the skin.
• Deep, painful lumps containing pus are often called cystic acne.

Acne can also leave red or dark marks after spots heal, as well as scars. In darker skin, redness can be less obvious and lingering dark marks more noticeable. Most individual spots last less than two weeks, but deeper bumps and nodules can persist for months. A spot healing is not the same as the whole condition clearing.1

What causes common acne?

Acne develops when oil and dead skin cells collect inside a hair follicle and block its opening. Sebum is the oil your skin makes to help prevent dryness, which comes with a technical name but no bottle. Inside a blocked follicle, bacteria that normally live on skin can grow and contribute to inflammation, causing swelling, redness and pain. Acne is a condition that can persist over time, not just an isolated spot.46

Hormones, family history and certain medicines contribute to acne. Hormonal changes during puberty increase oil production, and pregnancy can also trigger acne. Stress, pressure from helmets or tight clothing, picking spots and harsh scrubbing can make acne worse. Dirty skin does not cause acne, so scrubbing harder is not a solution. The relationship between diet and acne is still being studied; food is not a single explanation for every breakout.47

Acne is most common in teenagers and young adults, but people of all ages can develop it. Acne that continues into adulthood is more common in women. Some people still have acne in their forties and fifties, so an adult diagnosis of acne vulgaris is not a different disease simply because it arrived later.4

Does acne vulgaris need treatment?

Treatment depends on the kinds of spots, their extent, previous treatment and whether acne is causing scars or distress. Mild acne is often treated with medicines applied to the skin. Benzoyl peroxide reduces inflamed spots and blocked pores, but can cause burning, itching or redness. Retinoids, medicines related to vitamin A, help treat and prevent blocked pores. They are applied across the affected area rather than only to individual spots, and improvement can take several months.123

Clean skin gently and avoid picking or squeezing spots. More extensive acne can need prescription treatment, including oral medicines. Tetracycline antibiotics should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding.2347

When should you see a doctor?

Seek help early for deep, painful lumps, scarring or acne that affects your wellbeing. A dermatologist can help when acne does not improve with treatment. Acne is usually diagnosed by examining the skin, without routine tests. Sudden, severe outbreaks in an adult can prompt a doctor to investigate an underlying condition.23