It is a skin condition that causes spots.
Affected suffers are usually in the age group of between 12 to 25,though some people in there 30 and 40's can also be affected.
What are the symptoms.
Typically this condition cause one or more of the following to occur.
Blackheads or comedomes, Whiteheads, red or yellow spots, greasy skin and scars.
Areas typically affected are, usually the face, back, neck, chest or arms.
The severity of this condition can vary.
People of all colors can be affected by acne.
People of a darker color has the impact of the condition altered by the pigmentation.
The skin.
The surface has many tiny sebaceous glands just under the surface.
These sebaceous glands make a oily substance called sedum.
Its normal function is to keep the skin smooth and supple.
These tiny holes or pores let the oily sedum go to the surface.
Hairs also grow through these tiny pores or holes.
So just what causes the acne? It is caused by the sebaceous glands making to much of the oily substances, that are then secreted on to the surface.
The glands of people with normal levels of blood, seem to especially sensitive to testosterone, a perfectly normal hormone.
In people prone to acne, testosterone set off the sebaceous glands to make an excess of the oily substance sedum.
Also dead cells lining the hair follicle openings,is not shed correctly,and to a clogging up of the follicles takes place.
The two effects act to cause a build up of the oily substance.
It is this, that leads to blockheads and whitehead's to take shape.
The acne does not go any further in most people but in others this build up of oil in the hair follicle,is an ideal place for a bacterium called propionibacterium to grow.
They are normally harmless but in this ideal environment the quickly grow.
Your bodies immune system then reacts, this inflames the skin surface giving rise to a redness which is normally associated with spots and pimples.
In a more sever case the 'inflammatory acne', cysts can develop below the surface.
The cysts can rupture, spreading infection to nearby tissue which may the lead to scarring.
Myths and what can make acne worse.
It is not caused by, eating fatty food, chocolate, dirt and it not contagious so you cannot catch it.
Making it worse.
Picking and squeezing, stress, hormonal changes in women or excessive male hormones.
Some contraceptive pills, due to the type of progestogen hormone - yet others may actually improve the condition.
Please see your doctor about this.
Diagnosing.
Acne is recognized by appearance of spots and the way they are distributed on the body.
There are several types,so please refer to your doctor if in doubt.
Treatment.
There are a range of treatments and option to consider to help tackle the problem.
Aim is to prevent recurrence of spots,reduce those present and prevent scarring.
There are three categories.
Home treatment, prescription medicines, topical treatments and oral treatments.
The treatment of acne really deserves another article.
MJR
Affected suffers are usually in the age group of between 12 to 25,though some people in there 30 and 40's can also be affected.
What are the symptoms.
Typically this condition cause one or more of the following to occur.
Blackheads or comedomes, Whiteheads, red or yellow spots, greasy skin and scars.
Areas typically affected are, usually the face, back, neck, chest or arms.
The severity of this condition can vary.
People of all colors can be affected by acne.
People of a darker color has the impact of the condition altered by the pigmentation.
The skin.
The surface has many tiny sebaceous glands just under the surface.
These sebaceous glands make a oily substance called sedum.
Its normal function is to keep the skin smooth and supple.
These tiny holes or pores let the oily sedum go to the surface.
Hairs also grow through these tiny pores or holes.
So just what causes the acne? It is caused by the sebaceous glands making to much of the oily substances, that are then secreted on to the surface.
The glands of people with normal levels of blood, seem to especially sensitive to testosterone, a perfectly normal hormone.
In people prone to acne, testosterone set off the sebaceous glands to make an excess of the oily substance sedum.
Also dead cells lining the hair follicle openings,is not shed correctly,and to a clogging up of the follicles takes place.
The two effects act to cause a build up of the oily substance.
It is this, that leads to blockheads and whitehead's to take shape.
The acne does not go any further in most people but in others this build up of oil in the hair follicle,is an ideal place for a bacterium called propionibacterium to grow.
They are normally harmless but in this ideal environment the quickly grow.
Your bodies immune system then reacts, this inflames the skin surface giving rise to a redness which is normally associated with spots and pimples.
In a more sever case the 'inflammatory acne', cysts can develop below the surface.
The cysts can rupture, spreading infection to nearby tissue which may the lead to scarring.
Myths and what can make acne worse.
It is not caused by, eating fatty food, chocolate, dirt and it not contagious so you cannot catch it.
Making it worse.
Picking and squeezing, stress, hormonal changes in women or excessive male hormones.
Some contraceptive pills, due to the type of progestogen hormone - yet others may actually improve the condition.
Please see your doctor about this.
Diagnosing.
Acne is recognized by appearance of spots and the way they are distributed on the body.
There are several types,so please refer to your doctor if in doubt.
Treatment.
There are a range of treatments and option to consider to help tackle the problem.
Aim is to prevent recurrence of spots,reduce those present and prevent scarring.
There are three categories.
Home treatment, prescription medicines, topical treatments and oral treatments.
The treatment of acne really deserves another article.
MJR