Acne – Information, Causes, and Treatment Options

Author: Nathan M
Source: ezinearticles.com

Acne Info
1.-Concept
2.-Causes
3.-Influential Factors
4.-General Measures
5.-Treatment
6.-UV Rays
7.-Acne Scars
8.-Summary

Concept

Acne is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by skin outbreaks around hair follicles. It is a common disease that mainly affects adolescents, but can also affect adults, especially those between 20 and 30 years of age. In these people acne may appear as different types of acne such as comedones (blackheads), papules (red, hard bumps), pustules (pus grains) and more rarely cysts and abscesses. The lesions are located on the face and less often in the back, chest, shoulders and neck. Acne requires treatment and there is no need to wait to for nature to resolve the problem as it is very difficult to predict how long it will take to disappear completely. The treatment can prevent the development of scars or marks, thus improving the complexion of the skin and physical appearance.

Causes
Acne is due to a series of hormonal changes that occur during adolescence. During puberty, sebaceous glands (located deep in the skin) produce an oily material called sebum caused by testosterone (male hormone). Sebum comes to the surface through small tubes (ducts) and their opening is a pore.
Obstruction of the sebaceous ducts cause it to retain sebum, forming pimples, which can be:
-White or closed
-Black or open (blackheads)
The black colour is due to the action of air on retained sebum in the pores. Sometimes an excess of retained sebum in the ducts and the duct walls swell and burst, dispensing the sebum into the skin, resulting in the formation of red, hard pimples, (internal) or abscesses. Along with this, the sebum is retained in an ideal breeding ground for skin bacteria, causing more irradiation and inflammation.
Other causes of acne, especially in adults are:
- Pregnancy
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Cushing