Almost everyone has had acne, blemished skin or annoying whimpers at some point. Teenagers in particular often suffer greatly from acne vulgaris (common acne, teenage acne). Acne is the result of a (natural) change in the hormone balance, making prevention virtually impossible. Those affected always find acne unpleasant, but acne is not always equally serious. A distinction is made between 3 forms of acne:

The degrees of severity of acne

  • mild form (acne comedonica): blackheads, mainly in the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin), painless, without inflammation
  • Moderate form (acne papulopustulosa): inflamed pustules, fingernail-sized nodules, painful, these can also be found on the back, décolleté and upper arms
  • Severe form (acne conglobata): purulent, inflamed, often coin-sized lumps and craters, painful and scars form

Help with acne - Acne therapy

Therapy for all 3 forms of acne requires a lot of patience. For example, topical medications only show an effect after 6-8 weeks, which usually means that the skin does not deteriorate any further at first.

  • Treatment for mild acne: consistent special care according to age and skin type; gels are recommended for young patients with oily skin. If you are prone to eczema, you should use lotions that contain mild fruit acids instead of alcohol.
  • Therapy for moderate or severe acne: medicinal gels, creams, usually as a combination therapy, which aims to achieve 3 goals: to reduce sebum production, slow down keratinization and blockage of the sebaceous glands and kill inflammation-causing bacteria. It is important to start the therapy early so that scars and skin changes can be prevented. It is also important to apply the products regularly, even if there may be side effects or a deterioration at first.

Tablets for acne are only prescribed carefully and for severe acne; young patients are not prescribed them before the age of 13. Antibiotics for acne are approved for a maximum of 3 months. Oral retinoids are prescribed for severe acne and can be taken for at least 6 months.

Help with late acne

A special form is late acne, which is a severe to moderate form of acne after the age of 25. Women between the ages of 25 and 40 are particularly affected, as are women going through the menopause. This is caused by an excess of male hormones: after stopping the pill, during or after pregnancy, during menopause or obese women. Men suffering from acne usually have symptoms that have persisted since puberty.

Unfortunately, treatment for late acne also requires a lot of patience from those affected. As women also have to deal with dry skin during the menopause, many dehydrating youth products are no longer used. Creams are also better than oil-free gels. Here, the dermatologist must coordinate the care correctly. The treatment plan is pretty much the same as for teenage acne. A course of antibiotics lasts at least 6 weeks, retinoids must be taken for much longer and additional creams support the healing process. Pregnant women need to be careful, as retinoids and certain antibiotics are not permitted either as creams or tablets. Topical medication, light therapy and selected medical peelings are recommended. Certain birth control pills or hormone replacement products can also help women with late acne, but beware: these are not suitable for acne therapy alone, as they increase the risk of thrombosis, strokes or breast cancer, among other things.

Tips to alleviate acne

Although acne is almost always triggered by hormones, some measures can help to alleviate it:

Avoid carbohydrate-rich foods

Chocolate, white bread, etc. are carbohydrate-containing foods that can increase blood sugar levels and stimulate sebum production.

Avoid sun and solarium

These can lead to permanent brown spots that can only be removed with expensive laser treatments. It is essential to use non-greasy sun gel with a high sun protection factor.

Avoid stress

Stress increases the production of sebum and can aggravate acne symptoms.

JUVENIS offers the entire spectrum of acne therapy. Experienced dermatologists work with you to develop a treatment tailored to your needs. Whether on the face, chest or back, blemished skin and acne are treated quickly, gently and without damaging the skin. Information about this therapy can be found under this link: Treatment of blemished skin and acne in Vienna and treatment of acne in adults, late acne, acne tarda

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