ACNE TREATMENTS

Acne is an inflammatory disease of the skin and is caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (otherwise described as the skin structures, comprising of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). The full title is Acne Vulgaris and the skin lesions that are characterised by the ailment are commonly known as spots, pimples and sometimes as zits.

Acne is more commonly experienced by adolescents during puberty and it is caused by a reaction to otherwise normal levels of the male hormone, testosterone. The reaction for most adolescents reduces over time and symptoms generally reduce significantly, if not completely disappear when people reach their early twenties. Unfortunately, tit is impossible to predict how long it will be before the condition dissipates in its entirety. Sadly, some people will suffer from acne fot most of their life. We know that acne tends to affect most people at some stage in their life.

The term acne is derived from a corruption of the Greek word άκμή (which literally means a skin eruption) and first appeared in the writings of Aëtius Amidenus.

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The commonest type of acne is known as "acne vulgaris" or "common acne." The majority of teenagers that suffer from acne get this type of the condition. It is caused by the excessive secretion of oils from glands and is accompanied by the natural filling of the pores with dead skin cells, which then block the hair follicles. Oily deposits gather under the blocked pore and provide the perfect environment for a skin bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes and the lipophilic yeast, Malassezia to multiply in an uncontrolled manner. As a result of the bacteria and yeast accumulations, the skin becomes inflamed and produces the skin blemish.

Although acne itself has no serious consequences, it is known to have psychological issues for adolescents and can impact their self-esteem.

Causes of acne

It is not known why certain groups of the population suffer from acne, but in some cases it is passed down between generations. There are a number of theories about what can contribute to skin inflammations due to acne and these are:

Hormonal activity levels, such as menstrual cycles in girls and the onset of puberty in both sexes;

Diet - there is no clear scientific evidence that diet can cause acne, but there is evidence that certain substances, such as sugars, can aggravate the condition;

Stress levels arising from increased output of hormones from the adrenal glands;

An accumulation of dead skin cells, which can be relieved by regular skin exfoliation; Bacteria present in the pores and an allergic reaction;

Use of anabolic steroids;

Any medication containing halogens (iodides, chlorides, bromides), lithium, barbiturates, or androgens.

Continued exposure to high levels of chlorine compounds is known to cause long-lasting acne, known as Chloracne.

Available treatments

There are many products on the market to treat acne, although a number of them are without scientifically-proven results. It has been observed that treatments can show little improvement within the first few weeks, but the acne decreases after about three months, after which time the improvement diminishes. many people have found that short-term applications of cortisone can be effective. On the other hand, the use of antibiotics can be effective.

Exfoliating the skin can produce good results because it removes dead skin cells that will otherwise clog up the pores. This can be performed either by hand using an abrasive cloth or a liquid scrub, or chemically. The most common chemical exfoliating agents include salicylic acid and glycolic acid, which encourage the removal of the top layer of skin to prevent dead skin cells from developing.

Benzoyl peroxide cream. There are a number of products for sale that contain benzoyl peroxide which is used in cases of mild to moderate acne. The gel or cream containing benzoyl peroxide is rubbed into the pores around the affected region. Blue and red light It is known that short term acne improvement can be seen through exposure to sunlight although studies have also demonstrated that sunlight can worsen the condition in the long-term because the skin's natural reaction is to produce more oils. A recent development is that visible light can be used successfully to to treat acne and is known as Phototherapy. It is known that intense blue light can reduce the appearance of acne in the short term.

Try searching on the Internet for "acne treatments" and you will be amazed just how many pages are on offer. Try it for yourself by hitting the search button below!

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