How to Get Rid of Acne (Pimples) - Acne Cause, Types, Symptoms, Tips, and Their Homeopathic Treatment 

What is Acne?

Acne, also known as pimples, is a long-term skin disease that occurs when hair follicles become plugged with dead skin cells and oil from the skin. 

Acne usually appears on the face, neck, chest, back, and shoulders. It affects almost all teenagers during puberty. It is not caused by bacteria, although bacteria play a role in its development. In some women acne develops in their mid-to-late-20s may be due to hormone imbalance.

Acne is characterized by areas of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and greasy skin, and may result in scarring.

Causes of acne

There is no exact cause of acne, known. Acne occurs when sebaceous (oil) glands attached to the hair follicles are stimulated and get inflamed

Hormonal cause: 

According to some experts, the primary cause is a rise in androgen levels which is a type of hormone in puberty. 

Rising androgen levels make the oil glands under your skin grow; the enlarged gland produces more oil. Sebum (oil) is a natural substance that lubricates and protects the skin. Excessive sebum can break down cellular walls into your pores, causing bacteria to grow.

Hormone changes during pregnancy may cause acne either to develop for the first time or to recur.

Hereditary Factors: 

Some studies indicate that acne is a result of hereditary. Children whose parents have dealt with acne are more likely to struggle with this skin condition. 

Family history can have a lot to do with the way your skin looks and feels and is usually a good indication of whether or not an individual will deal with acne breakouts.

Stress: 

While stress doesn’t directly cause acne, it can trigger or exacerbate a breakout. When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol and androgen. 

When these hormones fluctuate, your skin secretes more oil, which can bring on a breakout or worsen pre-existing pimples.

Medication: 

Some types of medications such as those containing iodides, bromides, or oral or injected steroids, androgen, and lithium may cause or worsen acne. 

Most cases of acne, however, are not drug-related.

Cosmetic: 

Some cosmetics and skin-care products are pore-clogging (Comedogenic). Faulty and oily cosmetics may cause acne in some people. 

So it is important to read the list of ingredients and choose those which have water as a base. The "water-based" products are usually best for your skin, especially if it has acne.

Some myths about causing the Acne

There are a plethora of myths about the causes of acne, many of which are untrue and baseless.

•    Food: Parents often tell their teenage children to avoid oily, greasy, and fried foods and junk food. While these foods may not be good for overall health, they don't cause acne or make it worse. 

Although some recent studies indicate that a diet rich in carbohydrates can aggravate acne.

•    Frequent washing of face: Blackheads are oxidized oil, not dirt. Sweat does not cause acne and is produced by entirely separate glands in the skin. 

So frequent washing of the face does not help to cure acne. On the other hand, excessive washing can dry and irritate the skin.

•    Poor hygiene: It does not cause acne.

•    Chocolates: Eating chocolates is not a cause of acne break out.

Types of Acne

Acne is typically categorized into two main types: non-inflammatory and inflammatory acne.

A.    Non-Inflammatory Acne

Non-inflammatory acne is characterized by comedones (whiteheads & blackheads), which can be open or closed. 

Comedones are generally smaller and easier to treat. They develop when skin pores become plugged with oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria.

1. Whiteheads- These look like small blemishes with whitish “heads,” which are plugged with sebum and dead skin cells. It happens when there is an excess formation of sebum and dead skin cells.

2. Blackheads- If there are tiny blemishes that look like black dots, you’ve got blackheads. It is also called comedones. Blackheads appeared when the debris inside the follicle becomes oxidized.

B.  Inflammatory Acne

Inflammatory acne is a result of bacterial infection. They develop when blocked pores get increasingly irritated and are more difficult to treat. 

There are four types of inflammatory acne: papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts. Inflammatory pimples include papules and pustules.

1. Papules - When there is a presence of bacteria, sebum, and dead skin cells under the skin, which have caused inflammation, it is called papules. Papules do not have pus in them.

2. Pustules - Pustules are similar to papules, but they have pus inside and they may feel painful to the touch.

3. Nodules- Acne nodules appear in the latter stages of an acne breakout and are usually seen in severe cases of acne. They present as large, tender bumps underneath the skin’s surface and can feel hard and stiff to the touch. 

Similarly to papules, nodules contain sebum and dead skin cells, but at a deeper level of the skin and are much bigger and more painful than papules. They do not contain any pus but can remain buried within the skin for a long time.  

If squeezed or ruptured, these nodules can spread over a larger area of the skin and cause deep infections. These lesions can cause damaging and permanent scars on the skin.

4. Cysts - Cysts are similar to nodules, but cystic acne contains pus in it.  Cystic acne is one of the hardest types of acne to treat. 

Cysts are usually painful to the touch. They look like a big, red, and swollen lump on the skin.

Other Types of Acne

There are other types of acne that are different from Acne Vulgaris. Their appearance and symptoms can look similar to acne vulgaris, but they tend to be much more difficult to treat.

Acne Conglobata

These are uncommon and the worst type of acne which is characterized by painful abscesses and irregular scars, and features a large number of inflamed comedones, and nodules. 

It drains all connected sinus tracts underneath the surface of the skin and causes inflammation.  

These are indicative of a deeper condition than your average acne type and can cause more severe and permanent damage to the skin if left untreated.

Acne Rosacea

Acne Rosacea is not a disease of teenagers but it occurs mostly in adults of ages 30-45. It especially occurs in people with fair skin. 

Unlike common acne, there are usually no blackheads or whiteheads in rosacea. Symptoms can include facial flushing, facial redness, spots, thickening of your skin, and eye problems such as dry eyes and sore eyelids.

Acne Fulminans

It is a rare condition and a severe form of Acne Conglobata that is accompanied by horrible systemic symptoms. It always affects adolescent males. 

This condition can actually begin with pain and swelling in the joint and turn into nodular acne. 

This type of acne can come on suddenly and severely, with inflammatory and ulcerated nodular acne appearing on the chest or back.

Acne Mechanica

Acne Mechanica is a specific form of acne that is caused by heat, friction, and pressure against the skin. It is sometimes called "sports-induced acne" because it occurs frequently in athletes. 

Anything that traps heat against the body, whether it’s clothing or athletic equipment, can elicit a breakout. 

This condition can be prevented with absorbent material and shower immediately after activity.

Acne Keloidalis Nuchae

In this type of acne, there is a keloid-like papules & plaques on the occipital scalp and the back of the neck. 

This type of acne mostly appears in African American men. The lesions are often painful and cosmetically disfiguring.

Symptoms of Acne

Acne signs and symptoms vary depending on the severity of your condition:

•    Whiteheads - closed plugged pores

•    Blackheads - open plugged pores.

•    Pimples which are papules with pus at their tips

•    Big, solid, painful lumps (nodules) below the surface of the skin.

•    Painful, pus-filled lumps (cystic lesions) below the surface of the skin.

The Dos and Don'ts of Caring For Acne Prone Skin

Dos:

•   Do reduce Swelling with Ice - For swollen pimples, gently apply ice for a minute or so. Just don't keep the ice for so long that it irritates your skin.

•   Do look for cleansers with either alpha hydroxy acids (lactic or glycolic) or beta hydroxy acids (salicylic), or even better, a combination of the two. 

Check the bottle for those ingredients before you buy it. You can use any oil control natural face wash.

•  Do treat body acne. Use any natural antibacterial soap or benzoyl peroxide wash on your back and other areas of your body where you have acne.

•   Do wait for 20 to 30 minutes after washing your face to apply acne creams.

Don't:

•    Don't wash your face too much. Frequent washing can cause dryness and inflammation, making your skin feel itchy and painful?

•    Don't use exfoliating scrubs too often because they can irritate inflamed skin, causing tiny tears.

•    Don't pick, pop, or squeeze your skin. Squeezing blemishes or whiteheads can lead to scarring. And an open wound can get infected.

•    Don't forget to wash your pillowcase and phone! Dirt and bacteria can transfer from your phone, pillowcase, and anything else that touches your face. 

Complications

Possible complications include:

•    Cysts

•    Permanent facial scars

•    Changes in skin color

•    Damage to social life, self-esteem, confidence, and personality.

•    Side effects of conventional medications.

The Role of Homeopathy in Acne

Homeopathic treatment for Acne & pimples is a great alternative and natural therapy for acne. Homeopathic treatment of acne & pimples is totally side effect free and its long-term use does not lead to any damage to the body.

The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat Acne but to ensure that they do not leave any marks and scars. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several medicines are available for acne treatment that can be chosen on the basis of the cause of acne, the condition of acne, and the modalities of the complaints. 

There are many homeopathic medicines that have the potential to cure Acne. Out of them, some of the best Homeopathic medicines are Arsenicum brom, Arsenicum iod, Berberis aquifolium, Kali brom, Hepar sulph, Natrum mur, Pulsatilla, Sarsaparilla, Sulphur, etc.

Proper case-taking and detailed analysis of your symptoms can cure your acne permanently, with a well-selected homeopathic medicine.

About the Author: Dr. Rahul Singh

Dr. Rahul Singh is a registered Homeopath and Certified Nutritionist with over 16 years of experience and recipient of multiple awards, helps busy people in this fast life, re-energize with tips on a healthy diet, yoga, beauty, health, and wellness strategies that have an impact on their life.