Baby acne is a common problem with the newborn. Baby acne typically appears when the baby is just three to four weeks old. Baby acne appears in the form of red and fleshy pimples which are apparent on the cheeks but are not uncommon on the forehead and chin.

The condition is aggravated and more visible when the kid gets fussy, is hot or when he or she irritated because during these times, there is a rush of blood to the skin. Harsh clothes laundered and washed with chemical detergents or regular wetting of the cloth by saliva or milk can make the acne condition worse. Baby acne appears and disappears till the baby is about four to six months old.

Treatment for Baby Acne
Medical treatment is usually not necessary. Follow the self-care tips for managing baby acne here below:

• Gently wipe and clean the face with water
• Avoid lotions and oils which can baby acne worse
• If baby acne continues beyond six months of age, the pediatrician may prescribe a mild medicine to treat acne

Baby acne has its own timing and appearance. A baby develops acne because of the mother’s maturing hormones.

Occupational acne is a result of the skin to chemical and irritating substances. A localized for acne, the occupational acne is common in industrial setups. The irritants which cause occupational acne have a comedogenic effect on the skin thereby causing the development of comedones, which has been proved scientifically.

Some harmful substances that can cause occupational acne include halogenated hydrocarbons such as the chlor-naphthalene which leads to a persistent kind of acne called Chloracne. Other dangerous substances that cause acne include tar and mineral oil.

Diagnosis for Occupational Acne
Since it is a localized form of acne it is usually self-diagnosed by the person himself. The acne spots appear only in the exposed areas of the skin. It is also quiet possible to match the pattern of acne spots with the pattern of chemical or substances one is exposed to I his or her workplace.

Treatments for Occupational Acne
The treatments for occupational acne depend on the extent and length of exposure of the chemicals to the skin. Sometimes, such acne disappears on its own provided that the person is no more in direct contact with the irritants and substances. However, for occupational acne conditions such as the Chloracne, it may take weeks or months to heal. Medical assistance is absolutely essential for treating occupational acne.

Acne conglobata is one form of a severe case of acne condition. It is characterized by deep abscesses, inflammation, causes great damage to the skin including scarring, and blackheads are very common around the face, neck, trunk, buttocks and/or the upper arms region.

What causes Acne Conglobata?
Swollen bumps around the acne lesions gradually increase in size till they break down and release pus. Deep ulcers form below the nodules or swollen bumps and crusts above which further leads to scarring of the skin. Deep abscesses also cause a great deal of scarring and skin damage.

Experts claim that such a skin condition is sometimes preceded by an acne condition of cysts and/or pustules which often do not heal but deteriorate fast. Acne conglobata flares are also seen in otherwise dormant acne.

Treatments for Acne Conglobata
Isotretinoin is recommended for acne conglobata treatment. However, breast feeding mothers and pregnant women are advised not to take isotretinoin because of associated birth defects. Then again several treatments maybe required for treating acne conglobata including antibiotics.

More common in men than women, acne conglobata is said to affect people between 18 to 30 years. Regular follow-ups even after complete treatment is essential to check for recurrence and scar treatment.

Neck acne develops due to the same reasons that acne develops on the face or body. However, neck acne can be more painful than both, face or body acne. It has an abrupt onset and can stay life long. Acne at the back of the neck can be severe (cysts and nodules) and are similar to back acne. This usually happens because the skin is thick on the back and hence produces more oil. Men and boys are more vulnerable to neck acne than women and girls.

Neck acne gets aggravated with irritation. Men are therefore advised to avoid wearing collar shirts. Also cotton shirts are recommended to avoid further irritation caused to neck acne.

Treatments for Neck Acne

• For light to moderate neck acne gentle cleansing with 10% glycolic acid keeps neck acne at bay.
• For moderate to severe cases of neck acne combine 2.5% of benzoyl peroxide and 10% of glycolic acid. Accutane also works but has long-term side effects (miscarriage, birth defects, depression, psychosis and suicidal instincts) and is not marketed anymore. However, standard versions of the drug called isotretinoin are still available.

Acne can appear just about anywhere, even the scalp. The good thing about scalp acne is that they clear out on their own in about a week or two and are not visible. However, they scalp acne can get itchy and irritating but scratching is a never a solution for doing away with them.

What to avoid?
Avoid applying the following kind of products on your head:

• Oily styling products
• Strong hair conditioner

Instead try a milder shampoo and conditioner to wash your hair for two weeks and see if the scalp acne clears away.

Treatments for Scalp Acne
Some effective treatments for scalp acne are listed below:

• Benzoyl peroxide (though it can bleach the hair)
• Salicylic acid (apply with a cotton ball or fingers on your scalp)
• Dandruff shampoo (components such as zinc have said to be effective in treating acne prone scalp and have antifungal properties)

Scalp folliculitis is something you should be on a lookout for. It is a hair follicle disorder which often leads to itchy breakouts along the hairline. Experts suggest that it is a result of bacteria and yeast. Therapy for scalp folliculitis includes antibiotics, steroidal, antifungal and antihistamine agents.

One of the most severe forms of acne is known as Acne Fulminans. Experts suggest that such a condition is often a result of not being able to treat an earlier acute form of acne condition known as the Acne Conglobata.

Acne Conglobata is characterized by painful and ugly symptoms such as inflammation, scarring and deep rooted abscesses. The inter-connected nodules and skin legions in this condition lie beneath the skin and gradually grow in size with time till they finally break and release pus just under the nodules that cause scars, crusts or deep ulcers.

Symptoms of Acne Fulminans
Acne Fulminans develops suddenly in a person with inflammatory acne and is a highly nasty condition to deal with. Some symptoms of acne fulminans are listed below:

• Acne that turn into ulcers or boils
• Fever
• Joint aches and inflammation, especially in the knees and hip joints

Treatments for Acne Fulminans
Treatments for acne fulminans include relief for joint inflammation such as through corticosteroids or other non-steroidal medications, all under the supervision and guidance of a dermatologist. Experts also warn that acne fulminans has a tendency to reappear. In such a case, the person may develop similar kind of acne condition which would have to be treated with isotretinoin.

Nodules are little bigger than most other forms of acne. They generally form as hard lumps underneath the skin’s surface. They are normally quite painful and also last for weeks or months. Nodules normally cause scarring, so it is advised to consult a dermatologist to get treatment before the scarring occurs.

Cysts are almost similar to nodules with the only exception that have pus. Cysts are usually painful and also cause scarring if left untreated. As in the case of nodules, it’s best to consult a dermatologist for treatment of cysts.

Can severe remedies for treating cysts and nodules?
Generally mild to moderate acne affects 3 out of every 4 teens. So severe acne remedies are not necessary in many cases. But, if one is suffering from severe acne, severe remedies necessary to cure them.

If one is suffering from an acute or severe attack, symptoms of acne may last for months before the remedies start working. Despite severe acne remedies are followed, permanent scars can remain. So one has to find out severe acne remedies that will work for them and reduce the risk of permanent damage. After studying the individual’s needs and conditions a dermatologist can guide the right treatment.

Important acne remedies

• Keeping your skin clean and clear of dirt and oil is the first and best remedy. This means you have to wash the area having acne several times daily with soap and water, hydrogen peroxide or specialty cleansers. It helps in preventing toxic material from getting lodged into your skin. Though this is not the direct cause of acne, it may compound it.
• Be sensitive to your eating habits. A healthier system functions better and reduces the infection. Include drinking a gallon of water a day as it helps to flush your system.
• Also, avoid foods such as chocolate that irritate your condition.
• Regarding severe acne remedies or treatments, you are advised to consult a dermatologist as he/she can prescribe the best acne medication that suits your skin.
• Oral antibiotics like tetracycline and erythromycin are found to work well in treating severe cases of acne.
• Isotretinoin, a drug related to Vitamin A, has proven effective in fighting acne.
• Hormonal therapies are also used especially when nothing else works with women.
• Corticosteroid is an effective anti-inflammatory medicine that is prescribed for very short times to treat the most severe acne.

Pustules are small round lesions that are inflamed and contain visible pus. These appear red at the base with a whitish or yellowish center. These also contain a large amount of bacteria. The pustules are normally caused by chemical irritation from sebum components like fatty free acids. This form of acne is more often called as Pimples or Zits.

Symptoms:

• Persistent, recurrent red spots or swellings on the skin which become inflamed and get filled with pus.
• Mainly occur on the face, chest, shoulders, neck, or upper portion of the back.
• Sometimes appear as dark spots with open pores at the center
• The pustules can also develop from other forms of acne – blackheads or whiteheads.

Common misconceptions

• There are many myths spread about acne and causes of acne down through the years. It was generally thought that acne was caused by dirt. It was thought that improper hygiene causes dirt that forms in the pores of the skin and causes acne. But, in reality dirt has nothing to do with acne.
• There are many other causes for acne. Eating greasy foods such as French fries is found to cause acne. But there is no scientific basis for this. Till now no reason was found on how acne is related to food.
• Moreover there is another common misconception that it is teenagers that suffer from acne. But it is not completely true. Some women even in their twenties or thirties are having acne. It is believed that it is caused due to hormonal changes.
• If you expect the acne to go off by themselves, then you are completely going in a wrong way. If you leave the acne untreated it can cause scarring. So it is very important to treat them at the beginning itself and never expect that acne will go away as they age.

How to deal with pustules?
Leave all these misconceptions and never follow the wrong advice. Till now there is no 100% cure for acne, only control. One can control and prevent acne by using certain skin care products that have acne-fighting ingredients. Benzoyl peroxide is the best ingredient that is found to be highly effective in the control and prevention of acne. It destroys the bacteria that causes acne and also helps a lot in minimizing the number of blocked pores. This ingredient can be found in cleansers, toners and lotions. It can be purchased over-the-counter or by prescription.

Simple tips to help prevent acne

• Cleanly wash your face before going to bed
• Use clean towels and clean pillow cases
• Keep cosmetic brushes clean
• Do not pick or squeeze on the lesions, as it causes infection and also leads to scarring

Today acne sufferers are luckier because there are more treatments available for this problem than in past. The future also looks promising and you can expect 100% cure for this common problem as more and more people are suffering from this problem.