Acne is the medical term for pimples, and is a common skin condition in adolescents worldwide. Pimples happen when skin pores get clogged with dead skin and oil, and bacteria build up. Then the skin gets inflamed and can turn red or swell.

Hormonal changes during adolescence cause the skin glands which produce oily and waxy substances called sebum, to keep the skin soft and water proof to become enlarged causing increase in oil and wax production by the skin. In most people with acne, hormone levels are normal, but the glands are highly sensitive to the hormones and hence producing excessive amounts of these oils.

Acne tends to resolve between ages 30 to 40 years, although it can persist into or develop for the first time during adulthood. Post-adolescent acne commonly affects women, in contrast to adolescent acne, which predominantly affects men. Acne can flare before a woman’s menstrual period, especially in women older than 30 years.

Oil-based cosmetics may contribute to the development of acne. Oils and greases in hair products can also worsen skin lesions. Water-based or "non-comedogenic” products are less likely to worsen acne.

Some studies have found weak associations between cow’s milk and an increased risk of acne, perhaps because of hormones that occur naturally in milk. However, there is no strong evidence that milk, high-fat foods or chocolate increase the risk of acne.

Psychological stress is linked to worsening of acne. In some studies, acne severity appeared to worsen during times of increased stress.

Effective acne treatments are available to treat existing pimples and prevent new ones from developing. In addition, cosmetic treatments can help to reduce scarring and changes in skin color caused by acne.

There is no single best treatment for acne, and combinations of treatments are sometimes recommended. Since acne lesions take at least eight weeks to mature, you should use a treatment for a minimum of two to three months before deciding if the treatment is effective.

Skin care is an important aspect of acne treatment.Wash your face not more than twice daily using a gentle non-soap facial skin cleanser and warm (not hot) water, avoiding use of a washcloth or rough sponges and instead using the hands to wash the face. Vigorous washing or scrubbing can worsen acne and damage the skin’s surface.

Do not pick or squeeze pimples because this might worsen acne and cause skin swelling and scarring. It can also cause the acne to become infected.

Use of a moisturizer minimizes dryness and skin peeling, which are common side effects of some acne treatments. Moisturizers that are usually labeled as "non-comedogenic” are less likely to block skin pores.

Some acne treatments increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight and hence the need to minimize skin damage from the sun, by avoiding excessive sun exposure.

It is important to know that despite the availability of different kinds of acne treatment drugs easily accessible over the counter, it is always advisable to seek proper medical advice or if possible even consult a skin specialist doctor (dermatologist) before trying them, because some wrong combinations of these drugs can worsen the condition or cause bad scar formation, especially on the face.

Dr. Ian Shyaka is a General Practitioner at Rwanda Military Hospital.