Other possible triggers of an acne flare-up include: some cosmetic products – however, this is less common as most products are now tested, so they don’t cause spots (non-comedogenic); certain medications – such as steroid medications, lithium (used to treat depression) and bipolar disorder and some anti-epileptic drugs (used to treat epilepsy); regularly wearing items that place pressure on an affected area of skin, such as a headband or backpack and smoking – which can contribute to acne in older people. Your doctor can diagnose acne by looking at your skin. This involves examining your face, chest and back for the different types of spot, such as blackheads or sore, red nodules. How many spots you have and how painful and inflamed they are will help determine how severe your acne is. This is important in planning your treatment. 4 grades can be used to measure the severity of acne: grade 1 (mild) – acne is mostly confined to whiteheads and blackheads, with just a few papules and pustules; grade 2 (moderate) – there are multiple papules and pustules, which are mostly confined to the face; grade 3 (moderately severe) – there’s a large number of papules and pustules, as well as the occasional inflamed nodule, and the back and chest are also affected by acne; grade 4 (severe) – there’s a large number of large, painful pustules and nodules.
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