Acne Causes And Symptoms
April 16, 2007 – 5:44 pm | posted in DermatologyAcne is a condition of the sebaceous glands and it usually starts in the teen years when the hormone androgen stimulates the sebaceous glands of the skin to enlarge, produce oil and plug the pores. Both boy and girl teens get acne but it is often worse in boys because they produce 10 times as much androgen as girls and they tend to have more skin oils.
Genetics also plays a part so if the parents had bad acne, then the children have a greater chance of having acne too.
You will know the terms “whitehead” and “blackhead”. A whitehead is the early stage of acne when the pore is plugged with oil and skin cells. If this same plug reaches the surface of the skin, the air turns it black and we get a blackhead. It is important to know that a blackhead is not caused by dirt. If the wall of a plugged pore breaks, the surrounding area swells up and can turn into a red bump. If this happens close to the skin’s surface, then the bump usually becomes a pimple.
The immune system can play an important role as some teens can be extra sensitive to the bacteria that may become trapped in their pores. Acne is so common (almost 8 out of 10 teens have acne) that it is considered a normal part of puberty. This statistic still does not make it any easier when you look in the mirror and a big pimple stares right back at you.
If you have acne, then you need to be aware of these factors that can make your condition worse:
– Oil based make-up, suntan oil, hair gels and sprays.
– Menstruation in girls.
– Squeezing or picking at any blemishes or pimples.
– Hard scrubbing of the skin.
It is not only teens that suffer from acne. Acne can make an appearance during the twenties and for some, this can be the very first outbreak. Adult acne can be a recurrence of acne that cleared up after adolescence, a flare-up of acne for example during pregnancy or just occurring for the very first time.
This could be due to the following reasons:
– Medication including anabolic steroids (sometimes used illegally by athletes to “bulk up”).
– Exceptional physical pressure on the skin such as chafing from the straps of a backpack or tucking a violin between the jaw and chin.
– Chlorinated industrial chemicals which may cause an occupational skin disorder.
– Changes in the hormonal balance caused by pregnancy, menstruation or other hormonal abnormalities.
If you have acne, you need to invest time and effort by taking good care of yourself and treating your condition and the results will pay dividends.
Amoils offers all natural treatments for common conditions and ailments using essential oils. Visit our Acne Treatment page for more information.
You must be logged in to post a comment.