Diagnosis of acne
The diagnosis of acne
is what dermatologists call a “clinical diagnosis”. In other words, your doctor
will take a history and then do a physical examination.
On examination, a
person with acne will have oily skin, many blackheads and whiteheads, and red
bumps and pustules (pimples). In more severe cases, cysts and nodules will be
present (mainly on the face and upper trunk).
In women with an
irregular menstrual cycle, it may be necessary to do hormonal blood tests as
well as a sonar of the ovaries to exclude a condition called polycystic ovarian
syndrome (PCOS).
However, in most people with acne, no investigations or blood tests are necessary.
Courtesy by:
specialist dermatologist, Dr Ian Webster, MBChB (UCT) FF DERM (SA), February 2018]
Image Courtesy by: Adobe Stock & Google
