Introduction: Acne is a common problem that is dealt with people of ages and genders. Most acne problems are typically associated with teenagers, but they are not the only people affected. In fact, even a small baby can be prone to acne breakouts. Women and men both suffer from acne and a cure or better treatment is always being sought. Twenty-five percent of men and fifty percent of women suffer from some form of acne whether it is blackheads and whiteheads, pimples or cysts. The severity of acne is often the cause of many psychological issues such as depression and a negative self-image. Acne is something that is hard to deal with no matter how old you are and it is very possible to suffer from acne into your forties. The good news is that there is a lot of information on acne and ways to treat it. Each person may have different treatment requirements and sometimes you just have to try a few different products before you find the one that works for your body. Treatment can be very effective and this eBook is your guide to what acne is and how you can deal with it.There are also a variety of homeopathic treatments and different diets that you can use to help control your acne once you find a treatment that works. Acne does not have to destroy your self-image.
It is something that everyone faces at least once in their life and it is important for you to realize that there are steps you can take to improve your acne condition.
What is Acne? Acne is a common skin condition that tends to appear during the teenage years. Acne usually appears on the face, but it can show up in other places as well. It is not limited to one particular area on your body. Most people will experience acne at some point in their life and it can affect you as an adult as well. Acne appears in every race and affects males and females almost equally, although women tend to suffer more frequently. Acne Vulgaris is the proper name for acne. This condition is typically characterized by lesions that break out on the skin. The lesions can be whiteheads, blackheads or cysts which form because of clogged pores. This is commonly seen during puberty because this is when the body begins to produce an abundance of oil and a substance referred to as sebum. Sebum is required to keep the skin soft and lubricated. During puberty, however, it is produced more than needed. This excess causes the skin to feel oily and clogged pores.
Another change occurs during puberty is that the body begins to produce an excess amount of follicle cells. These dying cells will quickly build up and combine with the excess sebum that is being produced. This combination produces whiteheads. The area and mixture is a prime breeding ground for bacteria, which results in redness and swelling in the area. This inflammation is known as a pimple. Blackheads and whiteheads are non-inflamed areas, although they can be seen if grouped together closely. Acne is extremely common condition that affects about 85% of people, especially between the ages of 12 and 24. About a quarter of this group will experience acne not only on their face, but on their back as well their neck. About 40% of people will seek medical attention for severe acne. The main area for acne breakouts on the face is referred to as the “T-Zone.” This zone includes the forehead, nose and chin. Acne may appear on the cheeks and other parts of the face, but these areas tend to be much oilier than other areas. The next most common areas are the back, the neck, the chest and then the shoulders.
What’s Inside a Pimple?
A pimple is, by definition, a red, raised bump that is clogged with oil and dead skin and is infected with bacteria. The pimple bursts beneath the skin and sends the bacteria into the surrounding tissue. It is then called a papule. If this spreads deeper into the skin it is called a papule. If it goes even deeper it is then called a pustule. A pustule is not usually as red as other pimples, but it may have a white center and be painful. If it goes deeper than a pustule, then it is called a cyst. A cyst can be very serious needs to be treated by a trained professional.
Protectionism acne is found on the skin. This type of acne usually increases during puberty, as it uses sebum as a nutrient. Some people may have even more bacteria on their skin. When this occurs it collects in the pore of the hair follicle and becomes clogged with dead cells, a comedone is formed. A comedone is the medical term for blackheads and whiteheads. After the whitehead is formed, the body sends white blood cells to the follicle. The white blood cells begin to fight the bacteria and try to destroy it. This causes inflammation in the area. A normal follicle has sebum that is produced by your sebaceous glands. The sebum fills the hair follicle and spreads over your skin; this is what causes skin to appear oily. When the cells slough off after dying, they may become lodged in the hair follicle with the sebum. If the oil breaks through to the surface, then you will see a whitehead. If the oxygen oxidizes the oil, then the comedone changes from white to black and you see a blackhead. You shouldn’t pick at or pop pimples, but sometimes they are painful and you have to relieve the pressure. There is a sanitary way to do this that we will share with you later. In the meantime you are wondering what comes out of the pimple when you pop it – right? What you see is a whitish-yellow fluid. The fluid contains white blood cells, old tissue that has become liquefied and other cellular debris. This pus is often the site of infection where a foreign body has entered the body. This stuff is perfectly natural for it to be found in a pimple. The pus is the result of your body trying to fight off the bacteria.
Hormones Causing Acne Testosterone often causes acne to appear in athletes who use performance enhancing drugs. Acne fulminates is caused by testosterone and can have various affects on the body that would not normally be contributed to acne. Symptoms may include:
· Severe scarring · Painful joints · Rising and falling fever · Decreased appetite · Weight loss · Quick onset of acne Scarring is often found with people who have suffered from acne fulminates. This comes from collagen that is formed to heal the cells that have been injured by acne. This often results in excessive scarring.
Testosterone comes from cholesterol and is produced in the testes of the man. Women produce small amounts of testosterone in ovaries. Testosterone flows through the body and then binds to the androgen receptors. Both men and women have androgen receptors but the two sexes respond to them differently. Testosterone is not only the cause of acne in athletes and it doesn’t have to be performance-enhancing. Testosterone is often the cause of formation of acne at puberty. It can also affect women later in life as well. At puberty, the testosterone levels rise and causes the body to increase its sebum production and increases the oiliness of skin and hair, causing outbreaks.
Migrating Acne Body acne is another condition that is suffered by many people and it just goes to show that acne is not restricted to the face. Body acne affects both teenagers and adults. It may appear on their back, neck and shoulders. It can also appear on the chest and buttocks. There are several factors that can cause this acne to occur including: · Tight fitting clothing · Perspiration · Clothing that can’t “breathe”
People who are physically active are often prone to body acne. This is especially true if they wear clothing such as spandex. Spandex traps fluids against the skin and causes it to block the hair follicles and pores. Body acne can be similar to facial acne, but it can show up in some awkward places. Skin that is located on the body is often thicker and more susceptible to friction that is caused by clothing that fits tightly and rubs on the skin.
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