Acne conglobata is a type of severe acne vulgaris. It is often characterized by inflammation on the skin. This type of acne is mostly found among men between the ages of 18 and 30. It can be a result of serious but untreated acne or the reoccurrence of acne that was previously treated.
How to treat Acne Conglobata
Experts are not really sure about the exact cause of acne conglobata but due to the fact that it is only found among men, they believe that it has something to do with the high concentration of androgens such as testosterone. Some studies have also shown that acne conglobata is only found in certain families, meaning that it is closely related to genetics.
Another possible cause of acne conglobata is skin sensitivity. For some people, there are times when their skin can be very highly sensitive to propionibacterium acnes, the acne-causing bacteria. This type of condition makes people more and more vulnerable to have acne conglobata. Acne conglobata often appears with can be found on face, neck, back, upper arms, thighs, and buttocks.
In this case, the acnes often appear with blackheads which will later leave dark marks on the skin. These acnes appear because of the pores in the skin are probably blocked by sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria. The dark marks on the skin are probably because melanin, the skin pigment, leaks. If melanin comes in contact with the air, it will oxidize and turn black later on. In such case, the pimples are often filled with pus and would grow bigger.
When they are engorged, they would be raw and very sensitive. It is advised that you do not touch them. Touching them can be very painful. Make sure that they do not pop because once they do, they will spread all over the skin very quickly. Every popped pimple will again be filled with pus and will be ever larger than they previously were. These pimples would later become nodules and cysts.
Isotretinoin is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for acne conglobata. But because of the possible side effects of isotretinoin, tetracycline antibiotics like tetracycline, minocycline and doxycycline, are used. If isotretinoin is used, it can either be used alone or be combined with oral steroids such as prednisone.
In some rare and severe cases, treatment can also involve carbon dioxide laser treatment combined with tretinoin therapy. This type of treatment is very common and is only used if the skin is resistant to any other types of treatments that have been administered.