"Inventor: A person who makes an ingenious arrangement of wheels, levers and springs, and believes it civilization."Ambrose Bierce
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Acne - Causes, prevention and treatment
There are so many acne treatments on the market today; it is very easy to become confused. Every treatment claims to be the next miracle cure for acne. The truth being, most treatments are variations on a small number of effective approaches. One of the ...
How Can My Baby Have Baby Acne, He's Not That Old?
Acne is a condition only affecting teenagers, true? False. Acne is a condition which can affect people of any age, hence baby acne and adult acne are common. However acne is more common in teens. Acne is the number one skin problem in the world and ...
Shopping for Sensitive Skin: A Guide for the Acne and Rosacea Conscious
Acne and rosacea patients take note- you must know about proper skin-care and cosmetic usage to successfully manage your sensitive skin. This is the counsel of Dr. Diane Berson, who runs a dermatology practice in New York City. A critical step in reducing ...
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People of all races suffer from acne, In the US 85% of everyone aged between 12-24 develop some form of acne, that amounts to 17 million people making it the most common form of skin disease.
In the UK 80% of 11-30 year olds will suffer from acne at some point.
Acne symptoms tend to disappear for the majority of people when they reach their 30's, however people can still suffer from acne well into their 40's & 50's.
Acne is a disorder resulting from the action of hormones on the skins oil glands, known as sebaceous glands, which leads to plugged pores and outbreaks of lesions more commonly known as pimples or zits. They tend to appear on the face, neck, back, chest & shoulders.
Doctors believe that acne results from several related factors rather than one single cause. One of the most important factors is an increase in hormones called androgens, a male sex hormone. These increase in both boys & girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge making more sebum.
Hormonal changes related to pregnancy or starting or stopping birth control pills can also cause acne.
Heredity or genetics is another factor and researchers believe that acne can be inherited from parents. Studies have shown that many school age boys with acne have a family history of the disorder.
Certain drugs containing androgens or lithium can cause acne. A side effect of steroids can be acne.
Greasy cosmetics can alter the cells of the skin follicles and make them stick together causing plugs which can lead to acne.
Factors which can also cause acne are: - Friction caused by leaning on or rubbing the skin.
- Squeezing or picking at blemishes.
- Hard scrubbing of the skin.
- Environmental irritants such as pollution & high humidity.
- Changing hormonal levels in adolescent girls & adult women 2-7 days before their menstrual period starts.
- Pressure from bike helmets, backpacks or tight collars.
Myths about causes of acne include. - Greasy foods & chocolate are often blamed for acne, but what we eat seems to have little effect.
- Acne is cause by dirty skin is another common myth however blackheads & other acne lesions are not caused by dirt.
- Stress is often blamed but has no effect in regards to the condition.
Acne treatment
There are 2 ways to treat acne, topical (applied to the skin) or systematic (taken by mouth). Both over the counter (OTC) meaning no prescription is necessary & prescription remedies are available. The goals of treatment are to heal existing lesions, to prevent new lesions forming, stop scarring & minimise psychological stress & embarrassment caused by the disease. Drug treatment is aimed at reducing several problems that play a part in causing acne: abnormal clumping of the cells in the follicles, increased oil production, bacteria & inflammation.
Depending upon the extent of a persons acne it is recommended to try one of several OTC medicines that are topical (applied to the skin) or systematic (taken by mouth) or a combination of both. For prescription remedies you must see your doctor.
Prescription topical medicines can result in side effects, the skin may look worse for a while before hopefully improving. Other side effects include stinging, burning, redness, peeling, scaling or discoloration of the skin.
Similarly some prescription oral medicines can have side effects such as increased tendency to sunburn, upset stomach , dizziness or light-headedness & changes in skin colour. Also some drugs decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills making it necessary to use a backup birth control method.
(c) John Mac 2006
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
John Mac is Author & Owner of http://www.fitnessdiethealth.com your no.1 stop to help improve your fitness, diet & health.
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