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Acne is commonly misconceived as being a condition brought on by dirt and unhygienic cleansing habits. However, it is in fact a condition of more complex beginnings.
What is Acne?
Acne is a very common skin condition that causes lesions to appear on the surface of the skin. These outbreaks of lesions are sometimes better known as spots, zits or pimples. The symptoms of acne that people may experience can vary in severity. The affected areas of the body usually tend to be the face, neck, back, shoulders and chest.
Acne can affect just about anybody but is most common in teenagers. In fact, acne affects nearly 85% of people between the ages of 12 and 24 but usually clears-up around the early-twenties. Acne can be characterised into two groups:
Non-Inflammatory
- Whiteheads: Blocked hair follicles underneath the skin that appear on the surface as small, white bumps. This can also be described as a 'closed comedo'.
- Blackheads: These appear when the blocked follicles become enlarged and push through the skin. The black appearance of these is caused by melanin, which is the substance that gives skin its colour.
Inflammatory
This type of acne is caused by a build-up of bacteria in the blocked follicles which causes inflammation on the skin.
- Papules: This is a very mild form of inflammatory acne and appears as small, firm, pink bumps.
- Pustule: These are similar to papules in that they are small and round. Pustules however, are usually red at the base and have a yellowish, whitish, pus-filled centre.
- Nodules, Cyst: These are lodged deep within the skin and can be painful. Nodules are large and pus filled which, in extreme cases can be apparent for weeks or months and can harden, transforming into a cyst. Nodules and cysts can leave deep scaring of the skin.
How do I know if I have Acne?
Most people get the odd spot here and there at some point of their life. Countless people would probably confess to standing in front of the mirror before a date trying to conceal a spot on the end of their nose. Acne however, is characterised as being a chronic condition as it is persistent and occurs over and over again. To determine whether or not you have acne, read through the symptoms described in the above section and compare them to what you have.
What Causes Acne?
If you have acne, you may be embarrassed as you think that people will see you as being dirty and unhygienic. Perhaps you ask yourself what it is you are doing wrong - you wash and keep clean but still the acne persists. This is because acne is in fact, not caused by dirt at all.
Acne is a condition that begins its life-cycle deep within the skin and is not caused by dirt on the surface. The sebaceous glands, which are glands attached to the hair follicles or pores, produce a natural oil called sebum which moistens and softens the skin and hair. Usually, when the old skin needs to make room for new skin, the old cells die-off and mix with the natural oil to be pushed through the follicles and onto the surface, where it will then be washed away. However, some people will have uneven skin shedding patterns which can cause dead skin cells to mix with the oil and become sticky, which in turn, plugs the follicles. As the skin continues to produce sebum, the plug traps the oil along with bacteria in the follicle and results in a swelling on the surface of the skin.
The increased production of the natural skin oil, sebum, is commonly associated with the hormonal changes that occur as a result of puberty. As the body transforms into adulthood, hormones called Androgens are produced which cause the sebaceous gland to enlarge as a natural part of the body's development. Sometimes however, the androgens can over stimulate the sebaceous glands causing them to produce too much sebum.
The growth of bacteria underneath the skin can also be to blame for acne. As sebum is continuously produced, the follicles swell with a mixture of dead cells and oil. This mixture provides the common skin bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), with a perfect breeding ground. As the bacteria multiply, an inflammation of the skin is caused which results in swelling and redness.
How can I treat my Acne?
Acne, as a medical condition, is not usually too serious and can be treated and resolved. However, acne varies in its severity and types and should be treated accordingly. Although it is possible for acne to be treated at nearly any stage of its development, it is important to treat it as early on in the process as possible. As some forms of acne can develop into severe outbreaks of nodules and cysts, it is possible for the skin to become scarred which heightens the importance for an early diagnosis.
It is important for you to understand that the treatment of acne takes time and that there is no miracle cure that will eradicate your pimples over-night. Any treatment you decide to follow should be done so with care and accuracy. It may take weeks for any effects of improvement to be seen and therefore can sometimes prove to be frustrating.
Deciding on what treatment method is right for you may become an easier task with the help of your dermatologist who can guide you through your options and perhaps speed-up the recovery period.
Below are a few examples of some treatment options that you have as a sufferer of acne:
Over-the-Counter Treatments:
- Benzoyl Peroxide - This is a topical medication which means it can be applied directly to the skin. Benzoyl Peroxide has an antibacterial effect and can help encourage the shedding of the surface skin layer which can reduce the chances of blocked pores occurring.
- Sulfur - This is an age-old remedy for treating acne. Sulphur can be used in mild cases of acne and works by breaking down the whiteheads and blackheads by drying the skin.
- Resorcinol - This treatment is usually combined with other acne treatments such as sulfur and is affective in breaking down existing blackheads and whiteheads.
- Salicylic Acid - When buying this as an over-the-counter treatment, it is often accompanied with a pad as an applicator. Salicylic Acid works by slowing down the shedding of dead skin cells in the follicles and thus reducing the chances of the follicles becoming plugged.
Prescription Treatments:
- Oral Antibiotics - These can be prescribed by your doctor in moderate to severe cases of acne. They work by reducing the bacteria P. acnes which is commonly associated with inflammation. Oral antibiotics are usually prescribed for up to six months and begin with a higher dosage which is gradually reduced as the acne improves.
- Topical Antimicrobials - These may be prescribed by your doctor if you are experiencing mild to moderately severe symptoms of acne. Topical antimicrobials work in a similar way to oral antibiotics in that they reduce the bacteria P.acnes.
- Oral Contraceptives - These can help clear acne in women by reducing the amount of sebum produced by the sebaceous glands. However, women should fit certain criteria to be able to receive oral contraceptives as a treatment for acne such as, be a non-smoker, be younger than 35 and not have a history of migraines.
- Topical Retinoids - These may be prescribed by your doctor in mild to moderately severe cases of inflammatory acne. Topical retinoids work by unclogging the pores which in turn, helps prevent whiteheads and blackheads from forming.
If you are suffering from acne and you decide to use any of the available treatments, you should always follow the instructions carefully. By diagnosing acne early and treating it appropriately, you can prevent scarring of the skin and put a stop to any embarrassment you may suffer as a result of your condition.
Living with Acne.
If your acne is moderate to severe, without treatment, there are risks of scarring occurring as a long-term affect. If however, you have mild acne, it is likely that over time, it will clear-up naturally when your body regains a hormonal balance. There are a few simple steps that you can take to ensure that your skin stays healthy:
- When washing your skin, be careful not to scrub it as this can aggravate your acne further.
- You should wash your skin with a mild soap once or twice a day.
- Your skin needs the natural oils that are produced by your body, so repeated washing of the skin will not help. You should however, wash after exercising to clean away the sweat.
- When using different skin products such as sunscreen, it is helpful to buy those which are labelled oil-free, noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic.
- Although having pus-filled pimples on your skin may irritate you, it is best to leave them alone. Scratching, popping and picking at your spots can make them even worse and perhaps lead to scarring. By repeatedly touching your skin with your fingers, you could be adding to the oils and bacteria and thus worsening your acne.
Acne can cause sufferers of the skin condition much embarrassment. Depending on its severity, acne can be an unsightly and frustrating condition. If you have acne, remember that it is not your fault. Acne isn't a result of you being dirty or unhygienic, but is in fact something that is caused deep within the skin.
To help yourself treat your acne, try and get as much of an understanding on your type of acne as possible. By educating yourself on your condition you can begin to take steps towards treating it.
How can I Help?
Although acne is the most common skin condition, the specific causes are still not completely understood by medical researchers. Medical research allows researchers to better their understanding of acne, its causes and what may help prevent or even cure it. Without medical research and clinical trials, the treatments that exist now, would probably not be available. By conducting medical trials, researchers can test the safety and effectiveness of new medications. Medical research is extremely important in the development of understanding of the many diseases and conditions that today's society is faced with. By participating in a medical trial, you could be the key to the next treatment or even cure for acne.
Medical research studies may be conducted and are carefully designed to answer specific medical questions while protecting participants´ safety. Well conducted medical trials are the fastest and safest way to find improved treatments and preventions for diseases. Clinical trials or interventional trials determine whether experimental preventions, treatments, or new ways of using known therapies are safe and effective under controlled conditions. Observational or natural history studies examine health issues and disease development in groups of people or populations. For more information on current medical trials or to register on the BioTrax database, view the study section at
www.biotrax.com.
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