Acne Facts, Myths & Treatment by John Mac
People of all races suffer from acne, In the US 85% of everyone
aged between 12-24 develop some form of acne, that amounts to 17
million people making it the most common form of skin disease.
In the UK 80% of 11-30 year olds will suffer from acne at some
point.
Acne symptoms tend to disappear for the majority of people when
they reach their 30's, however people can still suffer from acne
well into their 40's & 50's.
Acne is a disorder resulting from the action of hormones on the
skins oil glands, known as sebaceous glands, which leads to
plugged pores and outbreaks of lesions more commonly known as
pimples or zits. They tend to appear on the face, neck, back,
chest & shoulders.
Doctors believe that acne results from several related factors
rather than one single cause. One of the most important factors
is an increase in hormones called androgens, a male sex hormone.
These increase in both boys & girls during puberty and cause the
sebaceous glands to enlarge making more sebum.
Hormonal changes related to pregnancy or starting or stopping
birth control pills can also cause acne.
Heredity or genetics is another factor and researchers believe
that acne can be inherited from parents. Studies have shown that
many school age boys with acne have a family history of the
disorder.
Certain drugs containing androgens or lithium can cause acne. A
side effect of steroids can be acne.
Greasy cosmetics can alter the cells of the skin follicles and
make them stick together causing plugs which can lead to acne.
Factors which can also cause acne are:
Friction caused by leaning on or rubbing the skin. Squeezing or
picking at blemishes. Hard scrubbing of the skin. Environmental
irritants such as pollution & high humidity. Changing hormonal
levels in adolescent girls & adult women 2-7 days before their
menstrual period starts. Pressure from bike helmets, backpacks
or tight collars.
Myths about causes of acne include.
Greasy foods & chocolate are often blamed for acne, but what we
eat seems to have little effect. Acne is cause by dirty skin is
another common myth however blackheads & other acne lesions are
not caused by dirt. Stress is often blamed but has no effect in
regards to the condition.
Acne treatment
There are 2 ways to treat acne, topical (applied to the skin) or
systematic (taken by mouth). Both over the counter (OTC) meaning
no prescription is necessary & prescription remedies are
available. The goals of treatment are to heal existing lesions,
to prevent new lesions forming, stop scarring & minimise
psychological stress & embarrassment caused by the disease. Drug
treatment is aimed at reducing several problems that play a part
in causing acne: abnormal clumping of the cells in the
follicles, increased oil production, bacteria & inflammation.
Depending upon the extent of a persons acne it is recommended to
try one of several OTC medicines that are topical (applied to
the skin) or systematic (taken by mouth) or a combination of
both. For prescription remedies you must see your doctor.
Prescription topical medicines can result in side effects, the
skin may look worse for a while before hopefully improving.
Other side effects include stinging, burning, redness, peeling,
scaling or discoloration of the skin.
Similarly some prescription oral medicines can have side effects
such as increased tendency to sunburn, upset stomach, dizziness
or light-headedness & changes in skin colour. Also some drugs
decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills making it
necessary to use a backup birth control method.
(c) John Mac 2006
About the author:
John Mac is Author & Owner of
http://www.fitnessdiethealth.com a
wesite designed to help people improve their fitness, diet &
health.
