What is acne vulgaris?

Acne vulgaris, or acne, is a skin problem that starts when oil and dead skin cells clog up your pores. Some people call it blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, or zits. When you have just a few red spots, or pimples, you have a mild form of acne. Severe acne can mean hundreds of pimples that can cover the face, neck, chest, and back. Or, it can be bigger, solid, red lumps that are painful (cysts).

Most young people get at least mild acne. It usually gets better after the teen years. But many adult women do have acne in the days before their menstrual periods.

What causes acne?

Acne starts when oil and dead skin cells clog the skin's pores. If germs get into the pores, the result can be swelling, redness, and pus.

For most people, acne starts during the teen years. This is because hormone changes after puberty make the skin more oily.

You do not get acne from eating chocolate or greasy foods. But you can make it worse by using oily skin products that clog your pores.

Acne can run in families. If one of your parents had severe acne, you are more likely to have it.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of acne include whiteheads, blackhead and pimples. These can occur on the face, neck, shoulders, back, or chest. Pimples that are large and deep are called cystic lesions. These can be painful if they get infected. They also can scar the skin.

What are comedones?

These are formed when pores become plugged. When glands produce too much oil, the pores can become blocked, accumulating dirt, debris, and bacteria. The blockage or plug is often called a comedone.

Whiteheads are white, raised bumps caused by collections of oil and skin in pores. Whiteheads are also known as closed comedones.

Blackheads are tiny, dark spots caused by a small plug in the opening of a follicle (pore) on the skin. Blackheads are also called open comedones.

How is acne treated?

Elimination of microcomedones, the precursor to all subsequent lesions, would optimize acne therapy by preventing the later inflammatory stages of disease. Prevention can be achieved by reducing sebum production and tightening enlarged pores, accelerating skin cell turnover, fighting bacterial infection or doing all three. Skin care especially tailored to remove blackheads are very recommendable. In Cathy Valencia Skin and Body Center, we perform all three.

Our customized acne management begins with deep pore cleansing accompanied by soothing facial massage, followed by gentle exfoliation with micorscrubs to remove excess oil and dead skin cells. A relaxing steam is provided to open up pores. The aethetician then removes all comedones which are the root cause of acne. Acne are carefully extracted to remove pus to hasten healing and decrease inflammation. Our facialists are well-trained so puck marks are never a problem. A specially formulated antibiotic is then applied to the face followed by a drying lotion to shrink pimples. Finally, a unique customized mask depending on the client’s skin type is applied to the face to regulate oil secretions while refining open pores. The mask has decongesting and anti-inflammatory ingredients to gently and effectively soothe, calm and re-balance the skin to encourage a clear complexion.

Specially formulated regimen including an antibiotic solution to kill bacteria and a sulfur-based solution to dry up pimples, promote shedding of dead skin cells and help to remove comedones are given to the client to be applied regularly.

Depending on the client’s skin, a series of acne management facial treatment is done on a weekly or monthly interval. For clients with severe acne, peeling treatment with an antibiotic enriched, fruit acid based solution is recommended to further remove comedones, calm inflamed acne, tighten skin pores and lighten acne marks.

What can be done about acne scars?

Acne scars, puck marks, open pores and pigmentation can be refined and virtually erased by our powerpeel treatments. Please click “Power Peel” for more information.


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