Acne Fast Facts

By Shohreh Shirkhorshidi, FNP, CNP

Impressions MediSpa

. http://www.impressionsmedispa.com/

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Acne Fast Facts

Acne is a disorder of the skin's sebaceous glands that results in clogged pores and lesions commonly called pimples or zits. Although acne is not a serious health threat, there are emotional consequences. Low self esteem and depression have been linked with acne and acne scarring in adolescents and young adults. Fortunately, acne can be treated.

What causes acne?

Acne results from several factors. The main factor is a high level of hormones, known as androgens, which increase during puberty. Emotional factors such as stress, especially severe or prolonged emotional tension, may make acne worse. Certain drugs; greasy makeup; rubbing the skin or pressure from items such as helmets and back packs; or environmental irritants like pollution or high humidity can aggravate the condition. It is, however, a myth that acne is caused by eating chocolate or greasy food.

Physiology of acne

Small glands called sebaceous glands are located around hair follicles and produce an oily substance called sebum. Sebum seeps onto the skin surface through the pore the opening of the follicle.

Acne occurs when sebum is not able to pass through the hair follicle. Cells lining the follicle shed too fast and clump together, plugging the follicle's opening. The mixture of sebum and cells cause bacteria to grow in the plugged follicles and produce enzymes that can cause inflammation. When a plugged follicle can no longer hold its contents, it bursts and spills sebum, skin cells and bacteria onto the skin, which leads to lesions or pimples.

Different types and stages of acne

The basic acne lesions are called comedones, which are enlarged hair follicles plugged with oil and bacteria. More advanced lesions include papules, pustules, nodules and cysts.

Papules are inflamed lesions that appear as tender small pink bumps on the skin. Pustules, more commonly known as pimples, build on top of popules as inflamed pus-filled lesions that are red at the base. Nodules are large painful, solid lesions that are lodged deep within the skin while cysts are deep inflamed puss-filled lesions that can cause pain and scaring.

Treatment of Acne

Acne medications reduce blockage of hair follicles, oil production, bacteria and inflammation. Over-the-counter medications help treat mild forms of acne and include ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur, and sulfur with resorcinol.

Prescription medications treat more severe cases and include antibiotics and other chemicals that decrease the growth of the bacteria. These usually take four to six weeks for noticeable improvements.

Lasers, intense pulsed light (IPL), chemical peels, and photodynamic therapy, have also become very popular in the treatment of acne in recent years.

There are treatments for acne scarring as well, including hydroquinone, laser resurfacing and fractional CO2, which have become very popular for correcting scarring from acne.

Simple steps can be taken to help in the prevention and treatment of acne wash skin gently one to two times per day, wash hair regularly, avoid tanning and choose cosmetics and skin care products that are oil free and do not clog pores, typically labeled as non-comedogenic.