Acne

Acne (also called ‘zits’, spots or pimples) is a common skin condition. It can affect any age, most commonly teenage years but also going into adulthood. Often for people with acne it can cause a lot of worry and distress, but don’t worry at QuickDoc we have the right treatments that can clear up or significantly improve your symptoms. The treatment can take about a month to work and you may need to continue for a while, even after the spots have cleared.

The most common age for people to have acne is between 12 and 25 years but some older people are affected. Acne usually affects the face but may also affect the back, neck and chest.

Around 80% of teenagers develop some form of acne. Often it is mild, however it is estimated that about 3 in 10 people have severe acne bad enough to need treatment to prevent scarring. Untreated acne usually lasts about 4-5 years before settling by itself.

There are several different types of spots caused by acne, the common ones are listed below:

• Blackheads, which are small and either black or yellowish.
• Whiteheads are similar in appearance to blackheads, but tend to be firmer and do not empty when squeezed.
• Papules are small and red, and may feel tender or sore.
• Pustules are similar to papules, but with a white tip that is caused by pus.
• Nodules are large hard, often painful, lumps beneath the skin.
• Cysts are large pus-filled lumps that look similar to boils. They are the most severe type of acne, with the greatest risk of permanent scarring.