What is Nodule Acne

If  you are reading this then chances are you have acne, or know someone who does. Acne can be a very distressing ailment to have but know   this, 8 out of 10 people have some form of acne during their lifetime, so you’re not alone.

The good news is you are learning about the different types of acne and hopefully you have caught it early enough so that it can be easily controlled and removed with little or no trace. So then, what is nodule acne?

Nodular acne is the most severe form of inflammatory acne and because of its particularly strong form, more often than not it can lead to lesions and permanent scarring and unfortunately it also does not respond to antibiotics, the traditional acne medication. Like all forms of acne, it begins when bacteria grow in oil that has managed to plug a hair follicle. Nodular acne mainly consists of pimples that are much bigger, even bigger than papules (measuring the size of pencil erasers) and may be painful, lasting for months. Nodules can grow hemorrhagic or suppurative, and generally show up as hard large bumps beneath the skin's surface. Pretty nasty eh!!?? Well there is a positive, although this fierce form of acne cannot be treated by the more favoured antibiotic method, there isn’t much chance of it surviving the treatment I will go on to discuss later (Accutane if you cant wait).

Treatment

So now you know what is nodule acne let’s look to how we can beat it. Nodular acne in most cases can be cleared, however it needs treatment by a dermatologist and if you suspect you have nodular acne then get one quick, give yourself the best chance of clearing it without permanent damage. Treatment should be commenced even in the mildest of cases, as once a patient develops a scar, it is often a scar for life. There is no reason why treatment with the gel or cream should not continue unless otherwise instructed by your dermatologist.

In the severe cases of acne, such as nodular, then the dermatologist will most likely prescribe Accutane, which is the most effective form of acne treatment available. Since the early 1980s, Accutane has been considered a breakthrough drug that could permanently clear severe acne unresponsive to other treatments and just to give you an idea of its popularity, overall sales of the drug totalled $ 523 million in the US alone.

It’s not all sunshine and clear skin though, you will most probably go through weeks of various tests and it could be a few months before you actually taste your first pill. There are such strict procedures in place due to the many side effects that are associated with the drug. Depression is a common side effect and often relatives are asked to be aware of any mood changes. The dermatologist will also pay very close attention to the patient’s birth control and will carry out regular pregnancy tests as Accutane is significantly detrimental to a foetus. The drug can also significantly raise the levels of cholesterol in the blood and so patients are put on a strict low fat diet.

The treatment lasts for about 5 months but it varies depending on the severity of the acne and the patient’s response to the drug.    By now you should have a good idea of what is nodule acne and know that there are treatments to cure even the most severe cases.