Understanding & Preventing Maturation Arrest Acne

DermaStart Canada
Dec 1, 2024
3 min read

Updated: May 7

Understanding & Preventing Maturation Arrest Acne

In a perfect world, none of us would have acne, but acne is part of life. Your genes, eating habits, hormones, cosmetics, medicine and other factor contribute to the problem. Even though most people associate acne to their teenage years, adults get acne throughout their lives, including maturation arrest acne. There are two main types of acne - Non-inflammatory and Inflammatory. THere are also four types of acne

Grade 1 (mild): Mostly whiteheads and blackheads, with a few papules and pustules.

Grade 2 (moderate or pustular acne): Multiple papules and pustules, mostly on your face

Grade 3 (moderately severe or nodulocystic acne): Numerous papules and pustules along with occasionally inflamed nodules. Your back and chest may also be affected.

Grade 4 (sever nodulocystic acne): Numerous large, painful and inflamed pustules and nodules.

Various types of acne cause various kinds of scarring and discoloration. So it's important to know the kind of acne you have. Maturation arrest acne is a Non-inflammatory type with a Grade 2 level. It is one of the hardest acne to treat.

What is Maturation Arrest Acne?

Maturation arrest acne looks like small studded nodes. It is non-inflammatory. It’s not visible from far away. However, when you observe your skin closely, you can see the small studded patterns.

The cause of this acne is closed comedones or whiteheads. These whiteheads give the skin the studded appearance. Oil and dead skin cells accumulate inside the pore and create a blockage. The blockage also stops bacteria from getting in. That's why there is no inflammation. Without inflammation, the body is unable to discard the accumulated oil and cells from the pours. As a result, the acne doesn’t heal and results in permanent studs on your skin.

In a general acne life-cycle, the comedones mature into blackheads, which have been oxidized. But here, the maturation process is stopped or arrested. Instead, the accumulations get trapped and the acnes continue to grow in size. Sometimes 50-100 blackheads and pores filled with sebum on only one side of the face with an occasional inflammatory lesion.

Causes

Here are some of the culprits that can cause maturation arrest acne:

Hormonal Imbalances: A rise in Testosterone levels
Dehydrating Topical Products: Mineral oils and other stiffing ingredients
Tobacco Related: Clogged pores
Vitamin Deficiency: Unbalanced secretion and excretion
Excessive Inflammation: Extreme exercise and sweating

Treatment

Because maturation arrest acne is harder to get rid of, you will have to be more proactive.

Create a low pH and oxygen rich environment to fight bacterial infection.
Apply corrective and skin digesting products for your exfoliation
Check if your cosmetics are contributing to the problem.
Manage stress as it can contribute to hormonal imbalances and over active sebum production.

Even though maturation arrest acne is not as painful as inflamed acne, it gives your skin a dull appearance. When you stretch your skin, you can see the nodes like small tiny pebbles. Also, it makes your skin oily but dehydrated within the basil layers of the epidermis. Suggested corrective skin care will help the remedy.