Acne is caused because of the blockage and inflammation of pores of the skin. This results in skin eruptions superficially. Pimples may sometimes occur due to the rush of hormones i.e. testosterone at the time of puberty. In some cases they may continue to trouble them into their young adulthood. However, acne is not limited to any age group. Even Adults who are in their 40s may get acne. Usually people tend to squeeze the pimples in an attempt to make them disappear. However, this act worsens the condition and results in more bumps. Normally acne occurs on the face. However, it can extend to the neck, shoulders, chest, back and sometimes to the upper arms. Though acne is not a life-threatening situation, it can be disfiguring and can upset you. Severe acne can result in serious and permanent scarring. Less severe cases can also result in scarring.

What are the various forms of acne?

The most common form of acne is Acne Vulgaris. Acne vulgaris includes numerous types of pimples. The various acne lesions are blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, papules, cysts and nodules.

When acne vulgaris is mild or moderate, it may consist of the following forms of acne spots.

Whiteheads:

Whiteheads are formed when a pore is blocked completely by trapping sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria. It causes a white appearance on the surface. Whiteheads usually have a shorter life cycle than blackheads.

Blackheads:

Blackheads are formed when a pore is partially blocked. This allows some of the sebum (oil), bacteria and dead skin cells which are trapped, to slowly move to the surface. It is not the dirt that causes the black color. The black color is due to the reaction of the melanin pigment with the oxygen in the air.

Papules:

Papules are bumps that are inflamed, tender and red with no head. You should not squeeze a papule because it may not improve the condition but may worsen your condition.

Pustules:

A pustule is comparable to a whitehead; it is inflamed and looks like a red circle with a yellow or white center.

Nodules and cysts may be seen when the acne vulgaris is severe.

Nodules:

In contrast to the lesions stated above, nodular acne has acne spots that are much larger and are usually quite painful. Sometimes, nodular acne can last for months. Nodules are hard, large bumps beneath the surface of the skin. Scarring may be common. One should never try to squeeze a lesion like this because you may end up causing severe trauma to your skin and it may also cause the lesion to last for months longer than it would normally last. However, dermatologists can help you to reduce swelling and avoid scarring.

Cysts:

An acne cyst looks similar to a nodule; however it is pus-filled. Also it has been explained as having a diameter of five mm or more across. Cysts may be painful and scarring is also common. Don’t squeeze an acne cyst because it may result in a deeper infection. It may also cause more painful inflammation that will last longer than the normal duration. However, dermatologists have methods for reducing the swelling and scarring.

What are the causes of acne?

The reason why some people get acne and some don’t is not completely known. It is considered to be partly hereditary. A number of factors are found to be linked to acne.

• Family history has been associated with the development of acne.
• Hormonal activities like that of puberty and menstrual cycles. The increase in male sex hormones namely androgens at the time of puberty causes the glands to get bigger and produce more sebum.
• Stress, due to increased release of hormones by the adrenal glands.
• Hyperactive sebaceous glands, secondary to the 3 hormone sources mentioned above.
• Buildup of dead skin cells.
• When there are bacteria in the pores, acne is caused by the anaerobic bacterium known as Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes).
• Scratching of skin or skin irritation of any type can activate inflammation.
• If you use anabolic steroids.
• Medications that contain halogens, lithium, androgens or barbiturates.
• Usage of certain drugs and chemical compounds that includes narcotics, particularly when intravenously taken.

A number of hormones have been connected with acne. They are the androgens testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and IGF-I. Adding to this, acne-affected skin is known to be resistant to insulin.

What are the factors that can worsen acne?

The different factors that can make your acne worse are as follows.

1. Oil acquired from skin products such as cosmetics or moisturizers when working in kitchen.
2. Change in hormone levels in adolescent girls. Acne can also develop with adult women two to seven days prior to the start of their menstrual period.
3. Stress can also make your acne worse.
4. Environmental irritants such as pollution and high humidity.
5. When the skin is scrubbed hard.
6. Pressure due to helmets, tight collars or tight sports uniforms.
7. What are the home remedies for acne?
8. There are various home remedies available. Here are few of them.
9. You can pound the orange peel well with water and apply to the areas those are affected with acne.
10. You can also apply cucumber leaves to those areas for curing acne.
11. You can rub the acne (pimple) with a fresh cut garlic clove.
12. You must drink at least four liters of water everyday to give your skin a healthy glow.
13. You can apply a paste of fenugreek leaves on acne overnight and wash it off in the next morning.

How does acne affect the patients psychologically?

Experts say that acne affects the psychology of a person more than any other single disease. According to recent studies the effect of acne on a person are social withdrawal, decreased self-esteem, reduced self-confidence, poor body image, embarrassment, feelings of depression, anger, preoccupation, frustration, higher rate of unemployment etc. All these effects mentioned here are inter-related. These negative psychological effects are discouraging for the patients.

How acne is treated?

Acne may not be curable but it is not untreatable. A wide range of therapies has evolved in recent years for treating acne. You should keep in mind that acne is incurable, but it can be controlled. A mixture of creams and solutions called as topical medicines can be used for treating mild acne. Topical medicines can prevent formation of new blemishes. So it is better to apply these topical medicines not only on the area of the pimple but all over the affected area. You might feel a tight or find your skin drying up when using the medicines. You can reduce the frequency of application when you feel that your skin is irritated.

Usually, antibiotic pills are used along with the topical medicines for treating moderate or severe acne. However, the combination may differ from one person to another and it might take some time for you to find the perfect combination that will suit your skin. Nowadays, certain hi-tech treatments aid faster healing and clearing of acne. There are few dermatologists, who do recommend these treatments. In an acne surgery, a round loop extractor is used for applying smooth and uniform pressure in order to remove the material. Using a pointed instrument for loosening up the lesions, which offer resistance, is also undertaken.

When a painful cyst forms you can opt for intralesional corticosteroid therapy for giving you fast relief. You have to remember that a combination of topical medicines, cosmetics and diet cleansers will usually provide you with the best treatment for controlling acne. If you have acne scars then you can choose from the various options available for treating them. The scar treatments available include:

• Collagen injection
• Autologous fat transfer
• Dermabrasion
• Microdermabrasion
• Laser Treatment
• Skin Surgery
• Skin grafting

This article is the property of http://www.ElegantDirectory.com
Copying and publishing any article from our site is strictly NOT allowed