Acne is an inflamatory disease of the skin, caused by changes in the pilosebaseous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). The most common form of acne is known as "acne vulgaris", which means common acne. Excessive secretion of oils from the gland, combine with naturally occurring dead skin cells to block the hair follicle. Oil secretions build up beneath the blocked pore, providing a perfect environment for the skin bacteria Propionibacterium acnes to multiply uncontrolled. In response, the skin inflames, producing the visible lesion. The face, chest, back, shoulders and upper arms are especially affected by acne.
The typical acne lesions are: comedones, papules, pustules and cysts. More inflamed rashes take the form of pus-filled, or reddish bumps, even boil-like tender swellings. After resolution of the lesions, prominent unsightly scars may remain.
The acne condition is common in puberty as a result of an abnormal response to normal levels of the male hormone testosterone. The response for most people diminishes over time and acne thus tends to disappear, or at least decrease, after one reaches about age thirty. There is, however, no way to predict how long it will take for it to disappear entirely, and some individuals will continue to suffer from acne decades later, into their thirties and forties and even beyond.
Acne affects a large percentage of humans at some stage in life. Aside from scarring, the main effects of acne are psychological, such as reduced self-esteem and depression. Acne usually appears during adolescence, when people already tend to be at their most socially insecure.
Acne Treatment:
There are many products sold for the treatment of acne, many of them without any scientifically-proven effects. However, a combination of treatments can greatly reduce the amount and severity of acne in many cases. It is highly advisable to ask a dermatologist about the tradeoffs between these treatments for any individual case of acne, especially when considering using any of them in combination.
