Although acne is most
commonly found on the
face, neck and chest, it
may also sporadically
appear on other parts of
the body. Acne lesions,
or pimples as they are
more generally known,
might also be found in
the genital area.
Because genital acne is
caused by the same
factors as acne found on
other parts of the body,
the methods for treating
it are similar. This
type of acne may be the
result of overly
productive sebaceous
glands, which are
attached to the hair
follicle and produce
sebum, an oily substance
that will create a
blemish if trapped in
the follicle. Acne may
also emerge if naturally
occurring bacteria
multiply at an abnormal
rate and clog the
follicle. Another common
cause of acne is severe
irritation caused by
dead skin cells shedding
too quickly, or by the
release of toxic,
inflammatory substances
through the skin.
When
confronted with acne in
the genital region, it
is wise to first look
closely at any irritants
which may be causing the
flare ups. If sports
equipment or clothing is
repeatedly contacting
the affected area, the
continual rubbing may
irritate the skin,
causing acne. Changing
laundry detergent or
other cleansing products
might eliminate the
problem. If no such
culprit can be
identified, it may be
necessary to visit a
dermatologist to
pinpoint the actual
cause of the acne. If
the lesions are large
and painful, or if they
are located on genital
organs, it is especially
important to get an
accurate diagnosis and
rule out all sexually
transmitted diseases.
Once a diagnosis has
been made and your
doctor has examined all
possible causes, it may
be necessary to try one
or more treatments to
address the problem.
This trial and error
period might take some
time, so try to remain
patient and remember
that all cases of acne
are curable once the
root cause has been
identified.
There
are several commonly
used treatments for mild
to severe cases of acne.
Your doctor may suggest
an over-the-counter
treatment or prescribe
an oral or topical
medication. If your
dermatologist has
recommended a treatment
plan, follow his or her
instructions completely.
Avoid overuse of topical
medications, which may
dry skin and cause more
significant irritation.
Typical acne
prescriptions may take
up to six months to
produce results. If
ample time has passed
and you are not
satisfied with the
results of your current
treatment plan, visit
your doctor to have your
skin re-evaluated. He or
she should be able to
recommend another
possible remedy for your
genital acne.
Because acne found in
any area of the body is
not caused by poor
hygiene, no amount of
cleaning will cure it.
To appropriately care
for skin affected by
acne, follow a simple
regimen of daily
cleansing. Dead skin
cells and dirt particles
should be removed to
encourage healthy skin;
however, gently
cleansing the affected
area on a regular basis
is all that is necessary
to achieve this goal.
Always use a mild
cleanser, do not scrub
or roughly scour your
skin, and pat dry with a
soft, clean towel. It is
important to resist
picking or squeezing at
acne as popping can
spread inflammation and
cause scarring, further
deteriorating the well
being of your skin.
