Acne Facts, Myths & Treatment by John Mac
Acne Facts, Myths & Treatment by John MacPeople of all races suffer from acne, In the US 85% of everyoneaged between 12-24 develop some form of acne, that amounts to 17million people making it the most common form of skin disease. In the UK...
... 80% of 11-30 year olds will suffer from acne at somepoint.Acne symptoms tend to disappear for the majority of people whenthey reach their 30's, however people can still suffer from acnewell into their 40's & 50's.Acne is a disorder resulting from the action of hormones on theskins oil glands, known as sebaceous glands, which leads toplugged pores and outbreaks of lesions more commonly known aspimples or zits. They tend to appear on the face, neck, back,chest & shoulders.Doctors believe that acne results from several related factorsrather than one single cause. One of the most important factorsis an increase in hormones called androgens, a male sex hormone.These increase in both boys & girls during puberty and cause thesebaceous glands to enlarge making more sebum. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy or starting or stoppingbirth control pills can also cause acne.Heredity or genetics is another factor and researchers believethat acne can be inherited from parents. Studies have shown thatmany school age boys with acne have a family history of thedisorder.Certain drugs containing androgens or lithium can cause acne. Aside effect of steroids can be acne.Greasy cosmetics can alter the cells of the skin follicles andmake 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 orpicking at blemishes. Hard scrubbing of the skin. Environmentalirritants such as pollution & high humidity. Changing hormonallevels in adolescent girls & adult women 2-7 days before theirmenstrual period starts. Pressure from bike helmets, backpacksor tight collars. Myths about causes of acne include.Greasy foods & chocolate are often blamed for acne, but what weeat seems to have little effect. Acne is cause by dirty skin isanother common myth however blackheads & other acne lesions arenot caused by dirt. Stress is often blamed but has no effect inregards to the condition. Acne treatmentThere are 2 ways to treat acne, topical (applied to the skin) orsystematic (taken by mouth). Both over the counter (OTC) meaningno prescription is necessary & prescription remedies areavailable. The goals of treatment are to heal existing lesions,to prevent new lesions forming, stop scarring & minimisepsychological stress & embarrassment caused by the disease. Drugtreatment is aimed at reducing several problems that play a partin causing acne: abnormal clumping of the cells in thefollicles, increased oil production, bacteria & inflammation.Depending upon the extent of a persons acne it is recommended totry one of several OTC medicines that are topical (applied tothe skin) or systematic (taken by mouth) or a combination ofboth. For prescription remedies you must see your doctor. Prescription topical medicines can result in side effects, theskin 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 effectssuch as increased tendency to sunburn, upset stomach, dizzinessor light-headedness & changes in skin colour. Also some drugsdecrease the effectiveness of birth control pills making itnecessary to use a backup birth control method.(c) John Mac 2006
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