Acne, Facts & Myths

Health Tip - Acne 

Do you know what Acne is?

Acne is a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells.

Acne is a common skin disease that causes" Pimples or Zits."

                                                                                                                                  

 Acne Statistics:

• Acne is the most common skin disorder in the United States, affecting 40 million to 50 million Americans.
• Nearly 85 percent of all people have acne at some point in their lives, most often on the face, chest, and back.
• By mid-teens, more than 40 percent of adolescents have acne. scarring, which requires treatment by a dermatologist.

                                

Acne Facts -  most commonly appears on your face, neck, chest, back, and shoulders.

Symptoms of Acne - Blackheads, crusting of skin bumps, cysts, papules(small red bumps), pustules, redness around the skin eruptions, scarring of the skin, and whiteheads.

Acne is a  skin condition that consists of pimples, deeper lumps (cysts or nodules), and plugged pores (blackheads or whiteheads).

Types of Acne:

• Acne vulgaris - most common form of acne:
• Papules - red, inflamed bumps on the skin that feel tender and have no head
• Whiteheads - result from a pore that is blocked (trapped oil, bacteria and dead skin) completely
• Blackheads - result from partially blocked (trapped oil, bacteria and dead skin)
• Pustules - most common type of acne lesion, appear as an inflamed red circle with a center that is white or yellow
• Nodules - severe acne, hard bumps under the skin that may be large and last for months, scarring is a common side effect 
• Acne Conglobata - very severe form of acne presents itself as large lesion that are interconnected
• Acne Fulminans - ulcerated and severe scarring is common
• Gram-Negative Folliculitis - a rare bacterial infection that appears as cysts and pustules
• Acne Rosacea - a skin condition that presents as a red rash that is confined to the nose, cheeks, chin, and forehead some cases accompanied by pimples, bumps, and blemishes
• Pyoderma Faciate (Rosacea Fulminans) - only found in females and presents itself as large nodules that may be painful, sores, and pustules on the face

Acne usually begins in puberty but the condition can affect any age group. Adults in their 20s, 30s, 40, and even into their 50s can develop acne.



Acne is caused by three major factors:

• Overproduction  of oil by enlarged oil glands in the skin
• Blockage of the hair follicles that release oil
• Growth of bacteria called P. acnes, within the hair follicles

 Other factors that may worsen Acne:

• Hormones - androgens are hormones that increase in boys and girls during pubertiyans
• Certain medications - drugs containing corticosteroids, androgens or lithium
• Diet - certain dietary factors, including dairy products and carbohydrate-rich foods (breads, bagels and chips may trigger acne

                                           

Risk factors:

• Teenagers
• Women and girls, two to seven days before their period
• Pregnant women
• People using certain medications
• Direct skin contact with greasy or oily substances, or certain cosmetics applied directly to the skin
• A family history of acne (if your parents had acne you're likely to develop it)
• Friction or pressure on your skin caused by various items, such as telephones or cell phones, helmets, tight collars and backpacks
• Stress does not cause acne but if you have acne already, stress may make it worse

                                

 Acne myths:

•  Poor hygiene - washing your skin too frequently and aggressively can make acne breakout much worse.
• Squeeze those pimples - causes further inflammation, which makes the acne look worse and last longer.
• Junk food causes acne - greasy foods and chocolate do not cause acne breakouts (there is a dietary link but not these specific foods).
• Acne goes away on its own - There are treatments for acne, it is clogged pores and bacteria that causes inflammation.
• Tanning beds clear up acne - The UVA light used in the tanning beds does not benefit acne.          

                   

Acne care and treatment:

• To prevent scars, do not pop, squeeze, or pick at acne
• Seek treatment early for acne that does not respond to over-the-counter medications
• Gently was affected areas twice a day with a mild soap and warm water. Vigorous washing and scrubbing can irritate your skin and make acne worse
• Watch what touches your face (hands or fingers)
• Shampoo your hair and wear hair back to avoid the oil from affecting your skin
• Use noncomedogenic (does not clog pores) cosmetics and toiletries
• Use oil-free cosmetics and sunscreens
• Avoid alcohol-based astringents, which strip your skin of its natural moisture
• Avoid heavy foundation makeup
• Remove makeup before going to bed
• Use medication as directed and allow enough time for acne products to take affect, which might be six to eight weeks    

                                            

Treatment and Drugs for Acne:

• Over-the-counter treatments
• Topical treatments available by prescription - applied to the skin)
• Antibiotics - oral
• Creams or gels - tretinoin, Retin-A
• Isotretinoin
• Oral contraceptives - birth control pills
• Laser and light therapy - photodynamic therapy
• Cosmetic procedures

 Acne scar treatment - soft tissue fillers, chemical peels, dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, laser, light source and radiofrequency treatments, and skin surgery.

Acne lesions tend to heal slowly and many times when one begins to resolve another one pops up.



Remember!

"The maintenance of ignorance is the key of the enemy"

If you have Acne clean your skin gently, try not to touch your skin and avoid the sun 

Information is power  

For more information go to www.everydayhealth.com, http://www.skincarephysicians.com/, www.WedMD.com, www.Ask.com, www.mayoclinic.com,www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, http://www.skinsight.com/, www.acnetreatment.net, and www.aad.org



Live well

Doc V