Acne Basics

Teenagers may think that only their age group suffers from acne. How wrong they are. Adults too, especially those who are in their 20s, get acne. But what exactly is acne? The term acne is used to refer to plugged pores, such a blackheads and whiteheads, pimples, and cysts or nodules occurring on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders, and even on the upper arms.

Acne is not life-threatening, but it does take a toll on a teenager's emotions and can disfigure the face in severe cases. Severe cases can lead to serious and permanent scarring. About 17 million people in the United States get acne. As a matter of fact, acne is considered a normal phase in growing up.

Acne affects the oil glands of the skin. The oil glands produce an oily substance known as sebum. The pores are connected to oil glands under the skin by a canal called a follicle. Within the follicles, oil carries dead skin cells to the surface of the skin. When the follicle clogs up, a pimple grows. Sometimes, the hair that grows through the follicle, sebum, and skin cells clog up. The bacteria in the plug causes the swelling. The pimple grows when the plug breaks down.

Certain factors are said to contribute to the formation of acne. Teenagers get the most acne because their hormones increase during that period and cause the oil glands to clog up more often. Pregnancy too causes hormone changes. Starting or stopping birth control pills affects the hormones. Thus, causes acne to develop too. Sometimes, heredity plays a role in acne formation; if one's parents have acne, their children could get acne too. Certain types of medicine may cause acne, as well as greasy makeup.

Acne lesions can be resolved and prevented. However, it may take time and may require the help of a dermatologist. Acne will not clear overnight. The average period needed for a skin with acne condition to improve would be about six to eight weeks. Dermatologists help determine the type of treatment appropriate for a specific type of acne. Factors such as types of lesions, co-existing conditions, severity of the acne, patient's age and skin type, lifestyle and motivation are all considered in the treatment. A dermatologist may decide to combine one or two treatments. Some medications may need to be approved by a dermatologist before being taken. Moreover, response to treatment may be different for each person because of varying skin and acne types.

If you have acne, wash your face after exercising and sweating a lot. Remember that pimple formation starts when the pore of the skin gets clogged up. Try not to touch your face too much and never pick, squeeze or pop pimples; doing so would only cause scarring. Keep long hair away from the face and wash it regularly to reduce oil. It might also help if you keep hairsprays and gels away from your face for they too clog up the pores. Avoid scrubbing your face. Scrubbing only worsens the acne condition because it irritates the skin.