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Severe Acne

Acne is a common inflammatory skin condition that is easily curable. The most common form of acne is Acne vulgaris. The severe forms of acne are Acne conglobata, Acne fulminans and Gram-negative folliculitis.

Acne Conglobata is a very severe form of acne caused by formation of inflamed nodules around widespread blackheads. These nodules erupt after sometime and result in permanent scars over affected area. Found predominantly in males than females it causes a lot of pain and discomfort. It effectively targets trunk, buttocks and upper arms of the body .It is seeded when papules and pustules degenerate or the dormant acne suddenly flares up. It can be effectively cured by antibiotics and Isotretinoin thought the treatment last for long duration.

Acne Fulminans is uncommon and harsh from of Acne Conglobata and is ulcerates with symptoms of fever, joints pain and feeling of being unwell. High testosterone intake for the purpose of body building sometime results in its rupture. It affects more men than women. It can be effectively treated by a dermatologist with the use of Isotretinoin, antibiotics, steroids, and anti-inflammatory agents such as aspirin.

Gram-negative Folliculitis is formed due to increased activity in skin cells by Gram-negative bacteria such as - Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella and Proteus species. It results in large scale infection and inflammation of hair follicles and cause pus filled pustules. Often it is caused by disproportionate use of tetracycline or topical antibiotics and can be treated by a dermatologist with antibiotics and Isotretinoin.

To treat severe acne, it is essential to first correctly diagnose the problem and obtain a medical family history of the patient. Patients with hereditary acne outburst are more prone to severe acne and since the acne is more resistant to treatment it entails longer duration of medical supervision. The most commonly used drug is Isotretinoin. However it is known to cause opthamalogic, neurologic and gastro-intestinal side effects. So care must be taken while prescribing it and must be taken only under strict medical supervision.

Those affected with severe acne must take certain precautions to avoid its further aggravation. It is advisable to avoid humid places like sauna and no or minimal cosmetics should be applied in case of irritation. Washing face two or three times with oil free cleansers is a good idea. Similarly hydrogen peroxide may be applied as part of the treatment process under medical supervision. Physical treatment of acne can also be restarted to along with medical advice .It involves removal of lesions with a fine needle by a professional as this will reduce inflammation and incidences of scarring.

After successful treatment of acne it is important to maintain the over all health of the skin to avoid reoccurrence of acne. In most cases topical retinoids are prescribed to improve the over all appearance of the skin. Isoretinoin dries up skin completely so it becomes necessary to apply oil free moisturizing agents to get that supple feel.

Acne is treatable and good skin care with common sense helps in complete rejuvenation of acne free skin.