| |
A disease or a stage in life development?
Most teenagers have some acne for a few years off and on.
However, adults in their 20's, even into their 40's or
older, can get occasional acne. While not a life threatening
condition, acne heals quickly in most people.
Acne is an inflammatory skin condition
whereby the tiny pores through which
the hairs emerge from the skin become
blocked and infected causing the
characteristic "black
heads" and "white
heads". It is through these
pores that the skin normally breathes
and eliminates waste products from
the body as an oil excreted by the
sebaceous gland.
Physiologically
male hormones found in both males and
females rise during adolescence
(puberty) and stimulate and enlarge
the oil (sebaceous) glands of the
skin. These glands are found in areas
where acne is common (the face, upper
back, and chest). Severe acne can be
due to a hormonal imbalance and may need
medical treatment.
The
oil glands are connected to a
hair-containing canal called a
follicle. The sebaceous glands make
an oily substance called sebum which
reaches the skin surface by emptying
through the skin surface opening of
the follicle. The hair follicle
opening is sometimes called the pore.
The oil (sebum) causes the cells from
the follicular lining to shed more
rapidly and stick together, forming a
plug at the follicle opening.
Common bacteria (normally found on
our skin) grow in the mixture of oil
and cells in the follicle. These
bacteria make chemicals that
stimulate inflammation and cause the
wall of the follicle to break. The
sebum, bacteria, and shed skin cells
spill into the skin causing redness,
swelling, and pus to form a pimple or zit.
Acne
eventually, does get better without
much treatment. There is
no way of predicting how long this
can take, but usually within 10-20 days per
infection. In severe cases, acne can cause permanent
scarring if left untreated.
Skin Care Tip
Wash the face with warm water until clean and then
rinse with cold water.
Fresh cold water tones the facial muscles and skin, and is
refreshing.
Acne |
Prevention | Treatments
| Skin Care
|
|
|
|
