What is Acne? what are its causes?
Acne Treatment Singapore – Acne is a condition that develops in and around the hair follicle and its surrounding oil-producing glands. These sebaceous glands produce sebum and all the major events that cause acne to happen at this level. Although the exact cause is unknown we know the following 4 factors are important and treatment is directed at them :
- Increase sebum or oil production people with more severe acne produce more sebum than others and this is probably genetically determined.
- blockage of the oil glands with this increased production producing the classical blackheads or whiteheads called comedones
- bacteria in the deeper part of the hair follicle beneath the sebum blockade then release chemicals that act upon the sebum breaking it down and in the process releasing other chemicals.
- These chemical reactions result in the next important factor we termed inflammation.
It is the bacteria and the resulting inflammation that produces the classical red papules and pustules that we also recognize as acne. In some individuals, the reaction is severe and gives rise to bigger lesions we call nodules and cysts. It is these nodules and cysts that give rise to the scarring we see in acne – sunken scars, pits, or a hardened raised swelling. In less severe cases the red marks or brown pigmented marks (after the red marks have settled) still cause distress for many patients. The main goal of acne treatment is, therefore, to prevent these scars from developing (these are harder to treat once they have developed) and to treat the cosmetic blemishes (red lumps, whiteheads, red marks, and brown marks)
It is better to treat the acne earlier rather than later and it would be a mistake these days (given the treatment modalities available) to wait and “outgrow” the acne. Many have suffered unnecessarily because the appearance can definitely be improved with treatment and scars can be prevented.
Available Acne Treatment Singapore
The treatment prescribed depends on the severity and type of lesions present (whiteheads, red papules, nodules or just brown marks) Mild acne is treated with
Topical treatment – this usually consists of a topical antiseptic like benzoyl peroxide or chemicals like salicylic acid, resorcinol, sulphur, some new amino acids etc. Topical treatment is also prescribed to treat brown and red marks.
Oral treatment – first-line treatment for mild to moderate acne would consist of antibiotics. More severe cases would warrant the use of oral contraceptives. Then there are lasers and light therapy (IPL or blue light, red light) to target the bacteria causing acne, or to treat the red marks, the sebum and finally, lasers are also used to treat the scars that result from acne Acne scars, once formed, are more difficult to treat involving the use of ablative (eg the CO2 fractional lasers) and non-ablative lasers. These may also be combined with minor surgery to remove the scars or replace them with a more aesthetic surgical scar, topical TCA, chemical peels, etc.
For an Acne Treatment Singapore consult with Dr. Ang, call +65 6353 3851.
