Dealing with Acne Acne is the most common skin disorder which predictably occurs first during the teenage.
It is estimated that over 70 per cent adolescents are affected by a recognizable form of acne. A lot of research has been done on acne, but there still is no conclusive medical theory as to what really causes it. The visible acne in the form of blackheads and whiteheads is closely associated with hyper activity of the oil glands and congestion of the skin pores. Seborrhea or excessive oiliness on the skin surface is the general precondition to the formation of acne.
However, the what, how and why about seborrhea are not well established. In reality, there is no treatment that cures acne. The cure lies in the preventive care, the do's and don'ts that have to be followed. With the preventive care, we aim at removing and nullifying the conditions that promote and aggravate acne, and help in building a healthy environment on the skin surface to resist acne. Where it appears Acne tends to afflict mostly on the face, back, chest and shoulders. The reason is the oil glands and the hair follicles, where the acne infection begins, are found in over abundance in these parts of the body. Usually it is a bad case of severe infection if acne is spread all over. The number of the areas affected is a good measure of the extent of the acne problem.
Common features of Acne Most people do not have any problem in recognizing acne. But sometimes, there are a few other kinds of skin condition that resemble acne closely but are actually quit different. In order to identify and estimate the acne condition in various stages, there are certain features to be examined. Excessive oiliness on the skin. Whiteheads which sometimes are inflames spots. Blackheads. Large visible skin pores. Little bumps under the skin (clusters of them).
Hormones and the Oily Skin Condition The activity of the oil glands is controlled by the male sex hormone androgen present in the body. This hormone is present both in men and women in differing proportions. As and when the level of androgen rises in a woman due to the hyperactivity of adrenal glands and ovaries, it results in the over-activity of oil glands. This worsens the oily skin condition and encourages the formation of acne. The role of Bacteria in Acne formation There are two main types of bacteria and a yeast type of fungus that are all over the skin surface. They are harmless and benign on normal skin. However, they become harmful bacteria on oily skin. The harmful bacteria work like this-when blockages or congestion appear in the skin pores, the harmful bacteria thrive in the low oxygen environment inside the glands and chemically change the triglycerides into fatty acids. Thereby, h: causes the formation of whiteheads. |
