Acne

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Acne

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Great.

A standardized system is usually used to grade acne severity as mild, moderate, or severe based on the number and type of lesions involved. Let's see which is yours.

Before we do that, acne can be non-inflammatory or inflammatory. Sometimes a combination of both.

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Acne occurs when tiny holes called pores on the skin surface become clogged when too much oil is produced by the skin glands. Build up of dirt, bacteria, dead skin cells result. This blockage is called a plug or comedone.

Now, if the top of the comedone is white or flesh-colored, it is called a whitehead (closed comedone) and if it is dark in the center, it is called a blackhead (opened comedone). These are non-inflammatory.

If these plugs break open, the comedone contents cause an intense inflammatory reaction on the skin leading to:

  • Small red bumps
  • Redness around the skin eruptions
  • Crusting of skin bumps
  • Small, inflamed, pus-filled, blister-like lesions.
  • Scarring of the skin

This is one reason you are adviced not to squeeze this stuff or scrub it too hard with facial scrubs.

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Let's continue to determine what stage of severity your is.

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Acne

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Now, let's count how many comedones and inflammatory lesions you have.

Would you say it is:

  1. Less than 20 comedones
  2. Less than 15 inflammatory lesions or
  3. Everything together is less than 30 count.

 

Yes?

Then you have a mild case.

 

Would you say it is between:

  1. 20 to 100 comedones
  2. or 15 to 50 inflammatory lesions
  3. or 30 to 125 total lesions?

 

Yes?

This is a moderate case.

See your doctor. Don't even waste your money on over-the-counter products.

Moderate cases require a combination of both topical creams or gels and oral antibiotic use.

Expect full benefit to take about 3 months. So see your regular doctor and not an urgent care clinic so you get ongoing monitoring.

 

Alright, would you say it looks like a total:

  1. Comedo count > 100
  2. Or inflammatory lesion count > 50
  3. Or total lesions > 125?

 

Yes?

This is a severe case. Scaring is possible.

You will need Accutane® (Isotretinoin)

Certain steps has to be met to qualify for this.

See your primary care doctor or dermatologist.

 

Alright, let's see what is available to help with acne over-the-counter?

Pharmacist Urgent Care