Is acne the same as pimples?

Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
Updated on September 07, 2024
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Acne is a medical term, commonly known as pimples or acne. These two are the same disease, caused by the infection of Propionibacterium acnes, and are related to one's own active sebaceous glands, eating spicy and stimulating food, or frequently staying up late. Once diagnosed with this condition, it is important to receive systematic and formal treatment to prevent recurrence. Treatment can include oral and topical medications from a dermatology department in a formal hospital, and combining this with red and blue light therapy may yield better results. Avoid scratching or popping the acne, as this can lead to scarring or pits. After recovery, it is crucial to maintain a proper diet and lifestyle over the long term, avoiding staying up late and consuming spicy and stimulating foods to prevent the condition from recurring.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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Can people with acne drink milk?

Patients with acne can drink milk. Milk contains high protein, calcium, iron, and zinc, which have certain therapeutic effects on acne. Drinking milk does not exacerbate or cause a recurrence of acne. Acne is related to vigorous secretion of sebaceous glands or local skin infection by Propionibacterium acnes. Once the disease occurs, it must be treated according to standards. Avoid spicy and irritating foods, do not stay up late, and you can take oral and topical anti-inflammatory drugs. Combining red and blue light treatments can hasten recovery. Try not to use cosmetics indiscriminately, especially those that are greasy and likely to clog pores. During treatment, try not to scratch or pop pimples, as this can lead to pigmentation or scarring. (Specific medication should be conducted under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by He Da Wei
Dermatology
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How to reduce redness from rosacea

Rosacea mostly occurs in middle-aged people, more often in women, and can be accompanied by acne or seborrheic dermatitis. The most commonly seen type in clinical settings is erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, primarily appearing in the central parts of the face, especially on the nose, cheeks, forehead, and chin, with symmetrically occurring erythema. Different stimuli, such as environmental changes, temperature fluctuations, consuming hot beverages, alcohol, spicy foods, exercise, and bathing, can all cause persistent blushing and erythema, often accompanied by dry skin, a burning sensation, or a stinging feeling. To reduce erythema, it is first important to protect against the sun to avoid damage to the facial skin barrier by ultraviolet rays. It is also necessary to avoid excessive cleansing, enhance moisturizing and skin-nourishing treatments, and avoid extreme heat or cold, as well as the adverse stimulation of mental stress. Alcohol consumption and spicy or irritating foods should be avoided. Local cold compresses may be appropriate, and for severe and recurrent cases, internal administration of Chinese herbal medicine is recommended to clear heat, cool the blood, and reduce redness.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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Can acne be cured completely?

Acne is associated with vigorous sebaceous gland secretion, consumption of spicy and irritating foods, frequent staying up late, familial genetics, or excessive secretion of androgens in the body. Therefore, at present, there is no way to completely cure this condition; it can only be controlled or reduced in terms of outbreaks. One can take oral and topical anti-inflammatory medications, and combine these with red and blue light therapy at a dermatology clinic of a formal hospital, which might speed up the effects. If the cystic acne symptoms are severe, one can use traditional Chinese medicine techniques like acupuncture point bloodletting for treatment. This illness has strong recurrence after healing, so it is essential to standardize one's diet and lifestyle habits, avoid spicy and stimulating foods, refrain from staying up late, and avoid stress and anxiety. It is also advisable to avoid using cosmetics indiscriminately. After recovery, it is important to continue with physical exercise.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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Can acne scars heal by themselves?

Generally, scars formed from acne are impossible to heal naturally. Most acne scars are due to improper or untimely treatment, or scars formed from infection due to squeezing or scratching during the treatment process. These scars do not heal by themselves, and common topical medications are not particularly effective in repairing them. Generally, treatment is needed from a dermatology department in a formal hospital. If the scar is not particularly noticeable, fractional laser treatment can be used for repair. If there is significant hypertrophic scar tissue, local medication injections can be used for treatment, but they can't completely remove the scar, only temporarily shrink and soften it. Therefore, it is essential to follow proper treatment protocols during acne treatment to avoid scratching or squeezing and prevent scarring.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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Can acne scars be removed?

If acne is not treated properly or promptly, it may worsen and develop into cystic acne. Additionally, if individuals frequently scratch, squeeze, or pick at the acne during treatment, infections can form and ultimately result in residual scarring. Once scars have formed, they are not easily fully repairable. If the scar proliferation is not too severe and is relatively flat, fractional laser treatment can be temporarily used for repair. If the scar proliferation is more pronounced and protrudes significantly, it is necessary to seek treatment in a proper hospital with medications and injections for closure therapy. However, these methods can only temporarily soften or shrink the scars, and cannot completely remove them. Therefore, the most fundamental approach is still to manage the treatment effectively to prevent residual scarring. Upon detection, it is crucial to follow standardized treatment protocols and avoid scratching or bursting the acne.