Sometimes spoken of as hidradenitis suppurative, acne inversa is a very severe form of acne and an inflammatory skin condition. The fact is that although this condition is called acne, it isn’t actually an acne condition, but a condition that happens because of the malfunctioning of sweat glands in the sufferer’s body and which has very similar symptoms to certain types of acne. The condition has distressing physical and psychological effects on the sufferer.
Acne Inversa Causes
The sweat glands malfunction due to blocked sebaceous glands the hair follicles also become blocked with dead skin cells and these are primary acne inversa causes. The excess sebum and dead skin cells get lodged underneath the skin and spread into the tissue that surrounds them. In the early stages of this condition it presents and blackheads and later abscesses that develop into pus filled lumps, the final stages can mean draining lesions that sometimes reach the size of golf balls. The condition is a result of a blockage of the sebaceous glands and the hair follicles with dead skin cells. These things then become lodged under the skin and invade the surrounding tissue, in the early stages this causes blackheads and abscesses which develop into lumps filled with pus. The process can result in draining lesions that can reach an enormous size. See acne inversa pictures below.
Signs that a person may be developing acne inversa are small black spots that usually present as pairs; these bumps become quite tender and eventually grow and break draining pus. Painful lumps then develop under the skin and become inflamed and may continue for years with leaking sores that cause tunnels under the parts of the skin that are affected Nobody really knows what the triggers are behind hidradenitis suppurative but it’s believed that stress, hormonal changes, smoking and excess weight have a part in this. Because the causes of this condition are not certain, it is extremely difficult to treat effectively.
Acne Inversa Treatment
A lot of acne inversa treatment is the same as those used for other, severe types of acne. Dermatologists may prescribe oral or perhaps topical types of acne medications and sometimes skin lesions may need to be surgically removed. Treatments depend on the severity of the case under consideration. Many sufferers can manage mild cases of hydradenitis suppurativa for themselves by washing regularly with an antibacterial soap or by placing warm compresses on the affected areas. Antibiotics may be used for acne inversa treatment over the long and short term because they aid the body in fighting off the infection and prevent symptoms from worsening.
In some sufferers who may be disabled by the pain of deep lesions and who have symptoms that are persistent, surgery may be the only recourse as it gets rid of the abscesses and this lessens the pain. An incision is made into the lump and the pus drained off then the lesions and the tunnels beneath the skin are removed. Surgery does not however, prevent further lumps from developing in other parts of the body. In the worst cases the whole affected area of skin may be removed, and this may require plastic surgery at a later date.
