Understanding Acne Vulgaris

Synopsis 1: Acne becoming an irritating issue? Not sure which grade you got? Or what that even means? Get the scoop on the four grades of acne vulgaris and learn the do's and don'ts for treating this common condition.

Synopsis 2: Acne vulgaris - Latin for common - is a skin condition that originates in the pilosebaceous units or sebaceous glands. Prevalent among teenagers, acne vulgaris, generally referred to as just acne, can vary greatly depending on its grade, or stage. And if you're an adult with acne, you know this irritating condition doesn't discriminate � people of all ages can suffer from acne.

The four grades of acne

Grade 1: A medium amount of blackheads and milia (whiteheads) appear on the nose, chin and forehead and sometimes around the eye. Occasionally, people experience small, red blemishes that can progress into pustules, blister-like lesions filled with pus.

Grade 2: A moderate form of the condition. Blackheads and milia appear in higher numbers and more frequently around the nose, chin and forehead areas. Blemishes will also emerge on different areas of the body such as the back and chest. Appearing in all shapes and sizes, blemishes will develop into pustules.

Grade 3: A more severe grade of acne. While blackheads and milia gather in several areas of the skin, the obvious signs of grade three acne are inflammation and the greater amount of white pustules. People with this grade might also have nodules - deep, large, painful blemishes (similar in size to a pencil eraser) that can persist for months.

Grade 4: The most serious form of acne vulgaris, usually referred to as cystic or nodulocystic acne. The skin is visibly reddened, inflamed and has numerous pustules, nodules and large cystic blemishes. Cystic acne is very painful and difficult to control. The oral medication Accutane, a powerful acne treatment with serious side effects, is commonly used to treat severe acne.

Acne do's and don'ts

Here are critical do's and don'ts for treating acne vulgaris:

    * Do update your skin care regimen with an acne fighting product. Choose from an array of products, including cleansers, toners, exfoliators and spot treatment gels or creams.
    * Do schedule a facial with your esthetician once a month and request that he or she use and recommend active products that are effective for your skin type.
    * Do read articles in reputable magazines and skin care journals like the American Dermatology Association (ADA) press. Organizations like the ADA continuously update information on new techniques to fight acne and other skin conditions.
    * Do wash makeup brushes frequently and throw away old makeup. Keeping your beauty products clean and bacteria-free translates into a clean, fresh environment for you and your face.
    * Don't go to bed wearing makeup. It's difficult enough keeping pores clean; wearing makeup to bed will only make this problem worse, so gently wash your face before hitting the hay.
    * Don't pop pimples. There's a very specific way to extract blemishes, especially the active ones - leave it to the professionals. Popping your own pimples, especially when you have moderate to severe acne, can spread bacteria and lead to scarring.
    * Don't overuse products - washing more than twice a day could do more harm than good. Read the fine print on products and use as directed. Establishing a daily and nightly routine will be more effective than over scrubbing or cleansing excessively.
    * Do make an appointment with a dermatologist to evaluate your skin. The dermatologist will create an appropriate treatment plan for you for managing your acne.