Acne development has 3 stages with different treatments and medications.
To get rid of acne permanently and prevent it from recurring, you need to understand the causes of acne and its 3 stages first. When you know what type of acne you have and at what stage, you can take care of your skin and choose the right medicines, creams, and products. Today, Dr. Nao has explanations and recommendations for treating acne at each stage.
Acne formation can be simply divided into 3 stages.
Stage 1: Comedones are blackheads that are embedded under our skin.
Acne cysts come in two types that are easy to spot: closed comedones (the top is usually white) and open comedones (the top is black). Closed comedones are harder to treat. If you squeeze them incorrectly, your skin can be badly damaged and may even leave scars.
TIP 1 Current acne is being treated with topical acne medication (BP/Benzoyl Peroxide) combined with clean and proper acne extraction.
Applying acne medication to loosen blackheads before extraction makes them easier to remove with less pressure, reducing the chance of bruising. This lessens skin trauma after extraction and prevents inflammation of surrounding skin.
TIP 2 Topical acne medication comes in various strengths, such as 2.5%% / 5%% / 10%%. You should choose one that suits your skin condition. If you have thin, sensitive skin, you should start with 2.5%%. Apply a thin layer of medication and leave it on for 10 minutes. If there is no burning or irritation, gradually increase the time by 10 minutes each session, with a maximum leave-on time of up to 60 minutes.
To apply acne dissolving medication, you don't need to use a lot. Excess medication can cause irritation. Applying it thinly and leaving it on for a long time will be more beneficial.
TIP 3 Applying acne medication caused burning and redness on the face, resembling inflamed skin. This may be due to extremely dry skin, leading to small cracks on the surface, which then causes stinging when medication is applied. This is often caused by using too much medication.
Edit by stopping the use of topical acne medication for 2-3 days, using a water-based moisturizer to rehydrate, and then starting the medication again by applying a small amount to 3-4 spots on the face. Dab a bit of water on your fingers and gently spread the medication over the skin to distribute it evenly without using too much.
TIP 4 If we leave clogged pores for a long time without applying medication or treating them, when germs land in the clogged area, they will become Stage 2 acne.
The transition from clogged pores to inflamed acne is partly due to improper and unsanitary acne squeezing, popping, or picking. Our fingernails are breeding grounds for germs. Using nails to press on the skin directly introduces germs beneath the skin. Furthermore, squeezing stimulates the inflammatory process under the skin.
Stage 2. Inflamed acne is acne with bacterial or fungal infection under the skin.
It's caused by external pathogens or pathogens on our skin that infect blocked pores. It's very easy to tell if a pimple is inflamed: inflamed pimples are characterized by swelling, redness, and pain when pressed. If left untreated, they will develop a white head or the pus may be embedded under the skin, causing the area to appear purplish and painful when pressed.
TIP 5 Acne these days is treated with antibiotics, both topical like Clinda Lotion/Metronidazole Gel, etc.
The initial treatment with topical medication is considered appropriate by the doctor. Patients can try self-treatment (in cases that are not very severe). However, if you've fully applied the medication and there's no improvement, and the treatment isn't working, don't leave it untreated until it escalates. Treating acne scars and marks is often more difficult, more painful, and more expensive than treating acne itself.
TIPS 6 If topical disinfectants aren't effective, there are also oral medications. These distribute more broadly and cover the skin more comprehensively, such as Doxycycline, for example. But... but... but!! Don't buy oral medication yourself. Oral antibiotics need to be chosen based on the suspected pathogen. If treated incorrectly, drug resistance will occur, making the condition difficult to treat. It's better to consult a doctor.
When choosing oral medications, topical medications, and various acne treatments, you must select them according to your skin condition, as each treatment has a different purpose. A doctor can best explain this.
TIP 7 To treat acne, you should use the full course of medication according to your skin condition. Applying only an acne medication or disinfectant without using other medications together might cause acne to subside initially, but then become less effective because the bacteria start to develop resistance to the medication.
Pathogens can adapt to fight antibiotics, which is what we call antibiotic resistance. This means that in the beginning, acne will subside well, but after using it for a while longer, you will find that applying antibiotics to pimples doesn't help them subside much. Therefore, when treating acne with topical medications, especially in cases of persistent acne, you should not use a single medication for treatment.
TIP 8 If we let inflamed acne persist for a long time without treatment, pus will form on the surface or accumulate under the skin. Once it reaches this stage, it often leaves marks on our skin, which is stage 3.
Besides germs, a significant cause of inflammation is our own picking and squeezing. Therefore, the easiest way to prevent acne from becoming inflamed and spreading is to stop picking and stop squeezing.
Phase 3: Dark acne scars and pitted acne scars.
The main causes are infection and skin injuries, which are mostly caused by improper picking, pressing, or squeezing.
Acne scars, medically known as PIH, can heal on their own, but it takes several months. The marks will fade according to the natural skin cell turnover cycle.
TIP 9 There are several ways to help acne scars fade faster, such as treatment with Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), Q-switched lasers or Pico lasers, as well as skin treatments and topical medications.
Applying medication and finding a scar-reducing cream seem to be the easiest options, but don't forget to choose a water-based formula to prevent new acne from forming.
Pitted scars are caused by the destruction of the skin's structural layers due to infection and inflammation, with underlying scar tissue preventing the skin from filling in the defect.
TIP 10 Treatments for acne scars include various methods such as laser treatments, RF wave treatments, and subcision.
Each method has different advantages, limitations, and post-treatment skincare. To choose the right method, you should consult a doctor to determine the best approach for your scars and depressions.
Acne is a bothersome problem at all ages, from teenagers, working adults, or even some older adults who still struggle with acne. Some causes are due to incorrect skincare and choosing unsuitable skincare products.
Next time, I'll share acne skincare tips from my own personal experience. Stay tuned for great articles with Dr. Na. MED DESIGN CLINIC See you next time. Hello.