Whether you’re a child, a teenager, or an adult, mild acne can be a bothersome skin concern. Acne begins when secretions from our oil glands build up and plug hair follicles. If the opening is small, this plugged follicle will form a whitehead; if the pore is large, it will create a blackhead. Both small and large plugged pores can become inflamed and form into more severe types of acne like nodules and cysts.
While most people have experienced the “coming-of-age tradition” of acne during puberty, approximately 20% of acne cases occur in adults. Acne most often begins to occur between the ages of 10 and 13 and, when associated with puberty, can last five to 10 years. During the teenage years, males are more likely to experience severe acne, while females are more likely to have mild acne as they age.
There are a number of ways to treat mild acne, including at-home remedies and medical dermatology remedies. While it’s not a cause for concern, it may affect your self-esteem and other parts of your life. In this blog, we will dig into how to treat mild acne, while also quickly reviewing some other types of acne.
What are the four types of acne?
The four types of acne are comedones, papules and pustules, nodules, and cystic acne. These types of acne vary in severity, from mild to severe. Most mild acne consists of comedones. Papules and pustules are moderate acne, and nodules and cystic acne are severe acne. When beginning to create a skin regimen to treat acne, it’s important to understand mild vs moderate acne, since acne has the capability of worsening over time.
What is considered mild acne?
Your acne is categorized as mild if your face rarely breaks out. While you may not have to deal with constant breakouts, mild acne still includes blackheads and bumpiness and can be overall frustrating to deal with. It can also lead to scarring.
Mild acne in babies
Babies may experience some unique cases of acne, including acne neonatorum and acne infantum. Acne neonatorum consists of small pustules that form on the cheeks, and it typically clears within a few weeks of birth. Acne infantum, which is more severe, develops within a few months of birth and usually lasts longer than acne neonatorum. Because acne infantum may cause scarring, it is important to consult a pediatric dermatologist if the acne persists.
Mild acne in teens
If you successfully avoid experiencing acne as a teenager, you are in the minority. Over 85% of people deal with acne at some point during the teen years. Because acne is such a common skin condition, there are many treatments available to help you or your teenager manage symptoms, and the sooner you begin treatment for mild acne, the more likely you are to prevent long-term effects like scarring.
Mild acne in teenagers usually includes whiteheads (fully blocked pores that create white dots) or blackheads (impacted but not fully blocked pores). If you start noticing papules, pustules, nodules, or cysts, the acne has probably surpassed the “mild” phase, and you should see your dermatologist to prevent it from escalating further.
Mild acne in adults
It is a common misconception that acne only affects teenagers. Even if you do not have a history of acne as a child or teenager, mild acne can still emerge as an adult, and it is important to recognize and take measures against it to prevent scarring in the future. Women may notice mild acne appear in conjunction with hormonal shifts related to pregnancy, menopause, or stress.
Adults may see mild acne show up in different “hot spots” than where it typically affects teenagers, including around the mouth or jaw. Keep an eye out for whiteheads and blackheads in these areas.
Mild acne is considered a minor skin issue, but it can easily turn into moderate or severe acne. Therefore, dermatologists still recommend treating this type of acne to prevent escalation. Depending on your needs, your dermatologist may prescribe topical medications, antibiotics, or retinoids. The good news is that many acne medications are available, so if a more basic measure like benzoyl peroxide proves to be ineffective, there are other, stronger options like isotretinoin to try.
What causes mild acne?
All of the possible causes of acne are not yet fully understood. An unbalanced diet and unmanaged stress, while they might not cause acne to appear “from scratch,” can certainly cause existing breakouts to worsen. While many things can trigger acne, hormones and bacteria are the most common culprits that cause mild acne. Another common cause of mild acne in children is friction against the skin, which can be caused by tight clothing and helmets.
Hormones often cause acne, and this case is especially true for teenagers. During puberty, our bodies produce high levels of androgens, which include the hormone testosterone. Testosterone triggers the body to make more oil, which we know can easily plug our pores. Although hormones are not the main cause of acne in adults, they can still play a role in mild acne affecting adult women experiencing menstruation, menopause, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
As oil clogs the pores, the pores can become infected by bacteria. This leads to comedones, which is often characterized by blackheads and whiteheads. Without treatment, this can lead to pustules or papules. Propionibacterium acne is a bacterium that naturally occurs in our hair follicles. If too much of this bacteria forms, it can cause the oil in our skin to break down. Some people are more sensitive to this breakdown in oil, which can lead to inflammation and acne.
How do you treat mild acne?
Mild acne is fairly easy to conceal, but it’s important to treat mild acne so that there is less chance that it develops into moderate or severe acne. Mild acne treatment can help limit oil production, limit the growth of bacteria, and aid in shedding dead skin cells to unblock pores.
Treatment for mild acne often includes a skin care regimen that consists of medicated cleansers and moisturizers. A consistent skin care regimen involves washing your face twice a day with the products prescribed by your dermatologist. The type of products recommended will depend on the cause of your acne. Benzoyl peroxide decreases Propionibacterium acne, and salicylic acid eases inflammation and unclogs pores.
You may need acne medication to treat your skin properly. A common topical medication prescribed by dermatologists is tretinoin cream, not to be confused with isotretinoin (previously known as Accutane). Tretinoin cream is used to treat mild acne while isotretinoin is used to treat severe acne. Tretinoin cream consists of tretinoin, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid sodium salt.
The tretinoin in this cream normalizes oil production, prevents new acne, and improves skin discoloration, shallow scars, and sun damage. Niacinamide also aids in reducing oil production and in reducing inflammation. The hyaluronic acid present in tretinoin cream helps to maintain the skin’s moisture as tretinoin and niacinamide can leave the skin dry.
In addition to acne medications, it is important to work on breaking habits such as picking at pimples and touching your face. If you know your skin is sensitive and prone to breakouts, look for products that are made for sensitive or acne prone skin. Products like these are often labeled as non-comedogenic, oil free, and non-acnegenic. Also remember to wash your sheets and towels often as bacteria, dead skin cells, and dirt quickly build up on these fabrics.
How long does it take to see clearer skin?
When starting a new mild acne treatment regimen, allow up to four weeks for the products to start making a difference in your complexion. Although it might happen more quickly, it can take up to six months to see the full effects of a new treatment. It’s also important to follow the skin care directions from your dermatologist. While skin care may seem like common sense, some acne treatments can leave your skin more susceptible to sunburn and irritation.
If you’re not seeing the results you want from your current treatment or your acne is bothersome or makes you unhappy, schedule an appointment with your dermatologist. You can reach our team at 412-429-2570 or visit our contact page to see all of our locations. You can also follow us on Facebook to see what’s new in the world of dermatology.