Understanding acne: causes and modern treatment
Acne is not a question of poor hygiene. How it develops and which treatments are available today.
Acne does not only affect teenagers – many adults, especially women, deal with it. And it is treatable.
How acne develops
Four factors work together: increased sebum production, a keratinisation disorder of the pores, the multiplication of certain bacteria and the resulting inflammation. Hormonal fluctuations intensify this cycle.
What acne is not caused by
Poor hygiene is not a cause – on the contrary: washing too often and too aggressively irritates the skin further. The link with individual foods is also much weaker than is often claimed.
Treatment options
- Topical: retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, topical antibiotics
- Systemic: antibiotics for a limited period, hormonal therapy, in severe cases isotretinoin
- Additional: fruit acid or salicylic acid peels, acne cleansing
- For scars: microneedling, laser or peels once the acne has calmed down
Patience is part of it
Almost all acne therapies take six to twelve weeks before the result can be judged. Stopping too early is the most common reason a treatment „doesn't work“.
Preventing scars
The most effective protection against acne scars is the timely treatment of the acne itself – and avoiding squeezing. Those who treat early need less scar therapy later.
When you should make an appointment
When over-the-counter products achieve nothing after a few weeks, when the acne is inflammatory or leaves scars, or when it is psychologically distressing.