The bane of teen hood for many people, acne causes red, painful skin eruptions, primarily on the face and back, but also on other parts of the body. Although the causes of acne are poorly understood, treatments ranging from simple home remedies and over the counter medications to prescription corticosteroids can help to relieve the pain and embarrassment it engenders.
The term “acne” actually covers several conditions. The most common of these is acne vulgaris, caused when pores become blocked by oil, or sebum, causing dirt, bacteria and dead skin cells to build up and form a plug on the surface, called either a whitehead (completely blocked pore with a white spot on top) or a blackhead (a partially blocked pore with a dark spot formed by some of the skin’s own melanin). Acne vulgarism tends to be most common in teenagers, although anyone can develop it.
Many people have another form of acne, called acne rosacea, characterized by a red rash that spreads across the nose and cheekbones in a pattern resembling a butterfly. Although the blackheads and pustules typical of acne vulgaris do not usually appear in acne rosacea, the condition can become severe, causing rhinophyma – swelling and growth of excess tissue in the nose.
Rarer, more severe forms of acne include acne conglobata, an extremely severe form of acne vulgaris that can cause disfiguring scarring; acne fulminata, an abrupt-onset form of acne that is also accompanied by fever and joint aches; and rosacea fulminans, a form of rosacea that appears suddenly in women who have never had acne before. A related condition, gram-negative folliculitis, results from a bacterial infection related to long-term antibiotic treatment of acne vulgaris.
Acne appears to run in families. Causes and contributing factors include hormonal changes related to puberty, menstruation and pregnancy, certain drugs such as steroids and hormonal preparations, and greasy or oily cosmetic products. Conditions of high humidity and frequent sweating can also trigger acne outbreaks. Contrary to popular belief, research has determined that foods such as chocolate, nuts and French fries do not cause acne.
Although there’s no cure for acne, self-care at home can help reduce the inflammation. Try these steps:
o Keep the skin clean. Use a mild, non-drying soap such as Dove and remove all dirt or makeup. Avoid over-scrubbing the skin though, and pat the face dry after washing.
o Keep hair clean too, with a daily shampoo. Pull hair back from the face, especially if tends to be oily.
o Avoid greasy cosmetics and creams, and be sure to take off makeup every night.
o Look for makeup and cream with water-based or non comedogenic formulas designed not to aggravate acne.
o Avoid touching affected areas, and try not to squeeze or pick at pimples.
For acne outbreaks that don’t respond to these strategies, over the counter medications can help. These are applied directly to acne lesions, and contain ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide to kill bacteria and dry up skin oils. While these preparations may help acne, they may also cause some skin redness and peeling. Very severe forms of acne may need medical intervention. Prescription treatments for acne include oral antibiotics like tetracycline, topical formulas like retinoic acid or stronger formulations of over the counter preparations. Laser therapy and chemical skin peels can also improve the appearance of acne-afflicted skin. If you don't know much about these, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_peel.
Acne can be embarrassing and painful. But a variety of treatments and common-sense self-care can make life easier for sufferers of this all too common condition in all its forms. For extensive information on treatment, visit http://www.acnetreatment.net/.
Jaimie Hellens likes to write about science, health care and acne.
