Getting To Know The Types And Grades of Acne

Types Of Acne Vulgaris Lesions

The common term acne is more accurately called Acne Vulgaris in medical parlance. It is the most common human skin disorder that is essentially a multiple inflammatory follicular condition that results in comedones, papules and pustules that breakout over skin areas on:

• Face

• Necks

• Shoulders and chest

• Back and upper arms

Ranging from mild to severe, Acne Vulgaris afflicts men and women in their puberty and teens but can also erupt in adults especially in women suffering hormonal imbalances.

Dermatologists categorize acne in four grades of severity determined by visual inspection. Knowing the grade can be critical to the level of treatment it gets and help sufferers in choosing the appropriate and effective treatment, whether it can be done at home or needs a session with your doctor or dermatologist. Often, if left untreated the mild grades can progress to the severe grades.

Grades And Stages Of Acne

Grade I is the mildest acne that’s often just a minor pimple that appear occasionally in small numbers and small bumps that can disappear without being treated. These are your common blackheads that suffer no inflammation or reddening and are most often seen in adolescents in the nose and forehead.

• Solutions: Treating them with mild OTC products formulated with Salicylic acid can easily get rid of them in a few days. A good facial cleanser is a good start as well.

Grade II is moderate acne. Blackheads and milia can break out in greater numbers. They can come in larger papules with some appearing as large pustules with slight inflammation getting obvious. These can become dismaying for self-conscious adolescents and will prompt many to seek treatment right away.

The outbreaks now appear on the cheeks, chin and jaw in addition to the nose and foreheads. Adult women are most susceptible during pregnancy and menstruation.

• Solutions: These can still be treated at home but with more potent OTC products which, in addition to being formulated with Salicylic acid, one with benzoyl peroxide should be able to kill the bacteria that causes the inflamed outbreaks. If after a few weeks, the condition hasn’t abated, it’s time to see your dermatologist.

Grade III is considered severe and is often Grade II left untreated and made to worsen by squeezing the pimples and maintaining the oily dirty face that attracted those bacteria at the onset.

The main difference now is the level of inflammation with the skin suffering Grade III acne exhibiting more profuse reddening and a greater number of inflamed papules and pustules. This is the grade when infection spreads and becomes deeper and the risk of scarring gets highest.

• Solutions: You now need professional help from your doctor or dermatologist who can prescribe systemic therapies to fight the inflammation from within and topically.

Grade IV is the most serious and is Grade III left untreated. The condition is medically referred to as nodulocystic or cystic acne where the skin displays numerous pustules, papules, pustules, with large cysts. There is severe inflammation and pain as cystic acne is very painful.

Often the infection spreads beyond the face and into the neck, shoulders and upper arms. The deep infection makes scarring inevitable and may even require cosmetic surgery after to restore a decent looking skin.

• Solutions: Grade IV acne can only be treated by a dermatologist and the more potent prescriptive medication can take time to heal the acne breakouts.

SUGGESTION:

Explore Top 5 Acne Scar Treatment And Learn How To Cure Acne Naturally