What is acne and why is it difficult to treat?

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There are many different types of acne, of which cystic acne is the most severe and time-consuming to treat. Besides, acne is not only unsightly, but also causes pain and affects the process of daily living.

1. What is cystic acne?

Nodules are also known as pustules. Unlike normal acne, nodules are the result of an inflammatory process on the surface of the skin. Acne forms when pores are clogged with sebum, makeup left on the skin, dirt accumulates, etc. From there, creating favorable conditions for Propionibacterium acnes bacteria to grow and attack the skin. skin, acne formation.
Acne under the skin is easily confused with acne. However, cystic acne has a more severe expression because the pore area is heavily infected with acne, forming a deep bacterial colony. Cystic acne is manifested as red, swollen acne, around the hard acne, the acne area has yellow or white fluid, pus. Acne is easily damaged. When accidentally touching or squeezing acne in the wrong way, it can cause acne to burst, causing inflammation of nearby areas. Not only that, when touching the acne is often very painful, if the acne breaks, it is easy to leave long-lasting dark marks.

2. Advanced stages of cystic acne

Acne on the nose, cheeks or chin often forms, progresses in 3 stages:
Stage 1: Acne on the skin is attacked by bacteria, turning into pustules. Small acne spots, not clearly identified Stage 2: Acne begins to swell, forming a nucleus containing white or yellow pus. At this time, people with acne should not touch the acne because it can make the acne callous, more difficult to heal. Stage 3: The acne is ripe, broken, and when broken, it can be accompanied by blood. The time it takes for a bruise to heal will depend on the type of skin and the degree of swelling of the acne.

3. Why is acne difficult to treat?

Acne on the cheeks, chin, nose or any other part of the body is a difficult type of acne to treat. This is because the cause of acne is very complex and difficult to eliminate thoroughly. Specifically:
3.1 Disrupted excretory function The excretory system is disordered, causing the liver and kidneys to work less efficiently, leading to toxicity in the body. To replace the work of the excretory system, the body promotes the activity of the endocrine system. And as a result, the sebum secretion function of the hair follicles is affected, making the facial skin always shiny and oily. Too much oil does not get out of the pores, causing blockage, creating favorable conditions for the formation of acne. Combined with unclean skin hygiene, acne on the chin, cheeks, nose, ... easily develops.
The treatment of cystic acne becomes difficult because it is difficult to completely eliminate this cause.
3.2 Inappropriate lifestyle and nutrition Diet and unscientific activities will cause the body to fall into a state of stress. Since then, the function of the kidneys and liver is disturbed, and other parts of the body are also disturbed. Therefore, eating unhealthy foods, unreasonable working and resting time, ... are the causes of acne. In addition, if this condition is prolonged, it can affect the endocrine system, even causing liver toxicity.
If nodules form due to this cause, the treatment of acne will be very difficult. Patients are forced to change their eating and living habits in the direction of science to be able to treat acne thoroughly. And if you continue to do unhealthy activities, acne can easily recur.

3.3 Genetic causes Genetic factors are also responsible for acne in some people. Until now, experts have not found out what determines the genetic status of acne. Therefore, there will be no radical treatment for acne if it is due to genetic causes.
However, cases of acne caused by genetic factors will usually clear up on their own when it comes to a certain time.
3.4 Characteristics of nodules Acne is not a common type of acne but is nodules that form deep under the pores, so it cannot be treated simply with conventional acne medications. The treatment of acne will require the use of specialized drugs, which are prescribed by a dermatologist on a case-by-case basis. Patients can use drugs applied directly to the acne or take oral antibiotics,... Patients must be persistent for successful treatment.

If the treatment is subjective, acne can spread all over the face, making the treatment process more difficult. Therefore, patients need to follow the doctor's instructions during the treatment, and at the same time stick to the correct regimen.
In fact, there are many causes of acne, in order for acne to be relieved, we should first actively change our diet and lifestyle and should visit the hospital for timely treatment. Because early treatment not only helps bring high efficiency but also shortens the time and limits the damage to the skin.
Dermatology Department - Vinmec International General Hospital is currently the address to receive examination and treatment of all skin problems, including acne and cystic acne. The examination is always performed by a team of qualified doctors with many years of experience to help bring the best results to patients.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.