Acne treatment in Singapore is sought after as it is a common skin condition where the hair follicles under your skin get clogged. As a result, oil and dead skin cells clog the pores and result in lesions, often called zits or pimples. You may have acne anywhere on your face and body, such as the back, chest, and shoulders, but most people get acne on their face.
Most people get rid of acne when they reach their 30s. However, some people may have this problem continue in their 40s and 50s.

Who gets acne?

Anyone can have acne irrespective of race and age, but it most commonly affects teens and young adults. When acne appears in teenagers, it is more common in males, but it is more common in women if it continues in adulthood and after.

Adult Acne

Chronic stress, hormonal imbalance, busy lifestyle, and pollution lead to more adult acne, congestion, and uneven skin tone. In addition, the skin cell turnover becomes slow in adult age, so it takes more time to heal acne than the acne in the teenage. That is why the post-breakout marks tend to stay longer and harder to clear. 

This condition is more common in women because of hormonal fluctuations. The breakouts may be inflammatory (red, sensitive) and often located around the mouth, chin, and jawline. 

Types of Acne

Acne occurs when pores become clogged with oil. There are many types of acne, including:

Non-inflammatory acne

• Whiteheads: Tiny blemishes containing white-coloured heads that appear when follicles get clogged with oil.
• Blackheads: These are tiny spots on the skin with sebum and grime that build up in an open follicle and become dark due to oxidation.

Inflammatory acne

• Papules: The bumps appear tender, reddish, inflamed, and swollen.
• Pustules are similar to papules, but red bumps contain yellow or white-coloured pus.
• Nodules are large, inflamed, and often painful, called nodular acne breakouts.
• Cysts: This is a severe form of acne. Cystic acne is deep, large, and painful bumps on the skin with pus-filled. 

What causes acne?

There are some reasons and causes of acne formation. Leading causes include:

• Too much sebum/oil production in the pore
• Accumulation of dead skin cells in the pore
• Presence of bacteria in the pore

 If you have the following factors, it is more likely you may develop acne:

• Age 
• Certain medications
• Family history
• Hormonal imbalance

 The following may trigger the onset of acne, although it may not be a direct cause of acne:

• Certain diet
• Environmental pollution
• Wearing helmets, tight clothes, or backpacks
• Picking or squeezing at pimples
• Scrubbing the skin too hard

What causes acne?

There are some reasons and causes of acne formation. Leading causes include:

• Too much sebum/oil production in the pore
• Accumulation of dead skin cells in the pore
• Presence of bacteria in the pore

 If you have the following factors, it is more likely you may develop acne:

• Age 
• Certain medications
• Family history
• Hormonal imbalance

 The following may trigger the onset of acne, although it may not be a direct cause of acne:

• Certain diet
• Environmental pollution
• Wearing helmets, tight clothes, or backpacks
• Picking or squeezing at pimples
• Scrubbing the skin too hard

 Where to get Acne treatment in Singapore?

• Your doctor may ask you the following to see if you have acne:
• Your family history and, for females, their menstrual cycles.
• Skin examination to determine the type of acne.
• Signs and symptoms.
• Lab testing to check if any underlying medical condition causes acne.

Acne Treatment In Singapore Options

 Depending on the skin type and severity of the acne, various treatment options are available.

Topical treatments for acne

• Azelaic acid
• Antimicrobials benzoyl peroxide, topical applications such as erythromycin, clindamycin, and dapsone
• Retinoids
• Sodium sulfacetamide

Oral treatment for acne

• Oral medications are used to treat moderate to severe acne. 
• These are usually antibiotics such as erythromycin, doxycycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
• Spironolactone targets acne-causing hormones, particularly in adult women with cystic acne.
• Isotretinoin can help in acne scarring, but doctors have some concerns over its usage because of the severe side effects associated with this medicine. It is used only in severe acne that does not respond to other treatments.

Procedural treatments for acne

• These are the procedures used to treat acne and topical or oral acne treatments. They include:
• Photodynamic therapy
• Salicylic acid peels
• Pyruvic acid peels

Medical Aesthetics treatments for acne

Cosmetic acne treatments can minimize acne. They include:

• Dermabrasion 
• Chemical peels
• Laser and radiofrequency resurfacing 

Laser treatment for acne

• Laser treatments help minimize the appearance of acne from old acne breakouts (95% of people with residual scarring).
• Laser treatments focus light on the top layer of the skin to break up the scar tissue. Also, it promotes new and healthy skin cells to grow and replace scar tissue.
• The laser treatment does not eradicate acne scars; however, it minimizes the appearance and pain caused by them.
• A person with active acne, very wrinkled skin, or darker skin may not be a good candidate for laser treatment for acne. Consult with your doctor to see if you’re a good candidate for laser treatment.

Conclusion

Acne treatment in Singapore is almost everybody’s issue, and any skin type, irrespective of age, gender, and race, can get acne. However, oily skin type is more prone to develop acne because of excessive oil production and hyperactive sebaceous glands. In addition, multiple factors such as genetics, age, hormonal changes, and lifestyle contribute to acne formation in teens and adults. Many treatment options are available to combat acne these days. These treatment options include topical or oral medications that include antimicrobial agents and antibiotics, procedural treatments such as chemical peels, dermabrasion, and laser depending on the skin type and severity of the acne.