UNDERSTANDING ACNE AND ITS CAUSES

ACNE

Usually affects about 88% of all teenagers in varying degrees, and about 45% of adults. It rears its ugly head in the form of inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions - pimples, pustules, comedones-blackhead and milia-whitehead.

Many ask what causes acne; medically the cause of acne is unknown. Some theorize that it may stem from hormonal imbalance, a nutrient deficient diet and genetics. Regardless of the cause control can come from a proper daily home care program. Stress is probably the biggest factor for acne. Stress stimulates the adrenal glands and for women this can be a double edge sword because they produce much of the male hormone from the adrenal glands. Men produce only a small amount of testosterone in the adrenal glands and naturally produce higher levels of testosterone and the surges of it from stress have less of an effect on acne. Stress weakens the body's ability to heal causing the white blood cells to attack the affected areas, resulting in extreme cases of acne which can produce large red and purple lesions that are painful appearing mostly on the forehead, cheeks and chin.

Acne appearing in adolescents is often referred to as Acne Vulgaris and is treatable. This type of acne comes from the sebaceous glands and usually produces comeodones, papules, pustules, nodules, cysts. This type of acne can cause pitted hypertrophic scars. Improper picking and touching will rupture the follicle wall and cause bacteria to spread.

Acne can also be caused by a comedongenic substance such as make-up and some facial cosmetics; this type of acne is referred to as Acne Cosmetica. This non-inflammatory type of acne usually produces red lesions, whiteheads and occasional pustules.

Acne Rosacea, a condition categorized as adult acne and is usually found mostly in women than men. It is more predominant in people of northern European heritage. It is most recognized by erythema-"redness" with telangiectasia-"dilated small red blood vessels under the skin". Lesions follow along the blood vessel dilation. Papules and pustules form in the center of the face also known as a butterfly pattern, primarily the cheeks and chin and are large and quite painful. This is genetic, chronic and progressive. It may begin in the early stages as flushing easily as the vascular Rosacea develops; it leads to more redness and broken blood vessels on the nose and cheeks. This is followed by the third stage, more common in men, as a bulbous hypertrophy nose. The skin at this point is in a constant state of trauma, weeping sores and extremely sun sensitive. This condition is exacerbated by excessive alcohol, hot spicy food, caffeine, tobacco, extreme hot or cold, hold cold showers, chlorine in pools, saunas & steam baths, strenuous exercise and stress.

It is important to know that not all of these various types of acne will affect everyone as an inflammatory condition; many people suffer with non-inflammatory acne conditions which could be considered as the occasional breakout.

Steps for prevention and the control of acne conditions are to remove blockages kill bacteria and reduce the production of excess sebum.