What is acne?
Category:Acne
Everything you need to know about acne and possible treatments.
Dr. St-Cyr MD
Being one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases, acne is mainly related to hormonal changes accompanied by puberty.
Most of us suffered from acne through our teenage years.
Those awkward years having pimples all over the face and neck, sometimes, even on the shoulders, back and upper arms.
In some cases, acne can persist into adulthood, especially in women due to hormonal changes and stress. Did you know that approximately 20% of the Canadian population suffers from acne? This representing nearly 5.6 million Canadians.
There are at home care and medical treatments that can help prevent and/or control acne. During the years, lots of research have been done to find a medical solution for this common inflammatory skin disease. We have been proudly part of this research. Our dedicated team of dermatologists and scientists invest a lot of time to help advance research and development on this inflammatory disease.
First, let’s look at what acne is.
What is acne?
Acne is caused by:
- Excessive production of sebum
- Clogged pores from dead skin
- The Cutibacterium acnes bacterium (Or C. acnes) present in the pores of the skin.
Different lesions can appear, such as:
- Blackheads
- Whiteheads
- Cysts
- Nodules
- Papules (slightly protruding red/pink buds)
- Pustules (pimples containing white or yellow pus)
How to care for your acne-prone skin?
There are lots of ways you can help prevent or control acne. It is important to have a skin care routine that you go through every day.
- Wash your face with a gentle soap.
- Avoid oily moisturizers.
- Avoid scratching, piercing, or manipulating acne lesions.
- Avoid foods high in sugar and/or oil.
What are the available treatments in the market?
As mentioned earlier, lots of research has been done to try to find different ways to treat acne. There are currently several types of treatments to fight acne:
- Creams (prescription or over-the counter)
- Antibiotics (applied on the skin or oral)
- Hormonal agents such as oral contraceptives
- Retinoids (applied on the skin or oral) (vitamin A derivatives)
- Laser
- Diet
It is always recommended to talk to a doctor to get the necessary guidance on how to treat the type of acne you have, before starting any treatment process.
How we contribute to medical research treatment for acne?
Since becoming a research institution, we have been part of several trials related to treatment for acne involving nearly 65 dermatologists and 900+ participants.
Many patients have signed up and joined us to work together to find solutions to their medical skin conditions.
