Diagnosing Acne

Most people in their teens and early twenties will suffer from mild acne which is readily recognized by the appearance of small blackheads and white pimples ringed by a slight redness. In these cases diagnosis is not really necessary but, in more severe cases, with nodules and cysts and where papules or pustules are widespread on the face and also appear on the shoulders, chest and back it is wise to seek a professional diagnosis from a dermatologist.

Where acne consists of simple whiteheads and blackheads (which are simply whiteheads which are open to the air and turn black as a result of oxidization) these are normally referred to as closed and open comedones respectively and often a good antibacterial cleansing cream and time is all that is needed to treat the problem.

In more serious cases of acne, such as where nodules and cysts form, it is not uncommon to experience a range of other symptoms including such things as aching joints, headaches, a fever and gastrointestinal problems. Here specialist treatment will be necessary including the use of a range of prescription drugs.

Diagnosing acne is not always easy and so it can be helpful to your doctor if you keep a record of your symptoms for a while before visiting the surgery. For example, listing down exactly what symptoms you experience and when they appear can be important in pinpointing the precise form of acne which is present. Your record should also describe the appearance of any spots including such things as whether they feel soft or hard, whether they are painful and whether they appear to contain pus.

In some cases things like mosquito and spider bites can appear very much like acne spots when they first appear but will usually disappear within a couple of days, unless you are allergic to the bite in question.

Another common condition which can often be confused with acne is rosacea which, like acne can often causes papules and red pustules. Similarly keratosis pilaris can frequently produce small bumps which resemble whiteheads, as can the heat rash miliaria rubra.

Many allergies can also produce a skin reaction similar to the appearance of acne, as can some sexually transmitted diseases. In fact, certain sexually transmitted diseases can actually cause acne while other produce similar skin reactions, such as herpes which can result in red and painful bumps which appear on the buttocks.

Some drugs such as anabolic steroids, lithium, prednisone, phenobarbital and tetracycline can also cause acne, as can an excess of Vitamin B complex. For this reason, it is extremely important that you give your doctor a full and frank history of any drug use including any dietary supplements which you are taking.

When we talk about acne it often seems like a very simple and common skin complaint which can be easily treated with an over-the-counter cream. Many times this is the case, however, there are also many forms of acne which require a professional diagnosis and specialist treatment. Applying an over-the-counter cream will have little is any effect if what you really require is acne.html">cystic" target="_blank">http://proactiveacnecreamtreatment.com/best-treatments-for-cystic-acne.html">cystic acne treatment or a cure for keloid acne.



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