About Acne
What is acne and who gets it?
Acne is a common skin disease that affects people of all ages, especially young adults. Most individuals experience facial acne; however the back, chest, shoulders and neck may also be affected. Although there are many types of acne, acne vulgaris is the most common form, affecting an estimated 85 percent of the population at some time in their life. Acne accounts for more than 2 million visits to office-based physicians each year for 15- to 19-year-olds, but the average age at presentation for treatment is 24 years old. Ten percent of visits are for those 35 to 44 years old.1
Acne is formed when an excess amount of dead skin and oil blocks follicles on the skin. The inflammation is seen in the form of whiteheads and blackheads. At certain times of life, this process becomes very troublesome, and may be hard to control.
How do I manage acne?
There are ways to treat, control and manage acne. It is important to remember that the earlier you learn to control acne, the less likely you are to have acne scars.
Topical treatment is the most standard form of treatment for acne and includes creams, gels or lotions. You may purchase these items over-the-counter (OTC) or by obtaining a prescription from your doctor. Individuals who have used OTC treatments and are not satisfied with results may wish to seek advice from a dermatologist.
To learn more about acne, please visit the following informational links:
www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne
www.acne-resource.org/index.html
1 James WD. Clinical practice. Acne. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:1463-1472.
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