You may be surprised to know that acne affects around 85-90% of young people.Male and
female across the world, acne is one of the worlds most widespread medical conditions.
Although there is no cure there are many treatments available and more is known about
treating acne than ever before.
Of course prevention is better than treatment, but if you have acne it is`nt you fault
acne is caused by a combination of factors within your skin over which you have little control.
An acne spot begins about 2-4 weeks before you actually see it, deep in your pores
your glands are producing the oils that keep your skin healthy.
Everyday your skin is renewing itself replacing old skin cells with new healthy cells
occasionally the old skin cells get stuck in the oils and block the pores trapping bacteria and hindering the
skins natural renewal processes.
The trapped bacteria cause the blocked pores to swell this causes you bodies natural
defences to react culminating with a pimple.
There is no one reason why this happens to some people and not to others certainly
genetics and hormonal imbalance especially in women are probably contributory factors.
Some Causes Of Acne
For most sufferers,acne starts at puberty, when the body
begins to produce hormones called androgens. These hormones cause the glands to swell, which is a natural
part of the body's development. In acne sufferers, however, the glands are overstimulated by androgens
sometimes well into adulthood. Androgens are also responsible for acne flare-ups associated with the
menstrual cycle and, on sometimes, pregnancy.
The bacterium Propionibacterium acnes, is a part of the
make-up of all skin types; it’s part of the skin’s natural sebum maintenance system. Once a follicle is
plugged, however, Propionibacterium acnes bacteria multiply quickly, causing inflammation in the follicle and
surrounding skin.
When your body is infected with unwanted bacteria, it
has natural defences which activate your white blood cells to attack the intruders. This process is called
chemotaxis and results in inflammation. This is why pimples become red, swollen and
painful.
Usually cells that have died within the follicle are
removed gradually and are forced onto the skin’s outer surface. But if the cause is an overactive sebaceous
gland and in almost all people during pubertythese cells are
removed a lot more rapidly. If extra oils are also being produced, the dead skin cells cause a blockage to
form in the follicle, preventing the skin from continuing with its natural process of
renewal.
What can you do don`t panic (stress can make things
worse)
Luckily, you can do something acne is not
untreatable.. But first, you should have a discussion with your
doctor try to find out the type and severity of your condition. acne, can take many forms, and have a much varied response
to treatment. The more you know about your specific form of acne the more likely you are to find a treatment
that works for you.