subject: Acne - Not Something To Be Ignored [print this page] Almost everyone has had a pimple on their face, back neck or chest at some time in his life. Many have even had an occasional "zit fit" when an ugly red bump dared to stand out in an obvious place for everyone to see. These moments, as horrible as they seemed are relatively insignificant for the ones who are having to deal with and are plagued with acne on a daily basis.
Acne is the most common skin disease. It can range from mild, moderate to severe. Its occurrence and prevalence normally is most severe during the teenage years. Once puberty stages are over and hormones balance out, acne out breaks tend to slow down and sometimes go away all together. As a matter of fact, many a weary teen has been advised to ignore it and eventually they will outgrow it. However, a red, pimply face is not easy to ignore which can cause emotional trauma and insecurity. Besides, ignoring acne may lead to permanent scarring that can add even more stress.
Acne is not just phase that teens go through and acne is not something to be ignored. It is, as I mentioned earlier, a skin disease, and like other diseases, should be treated appropriately. Acne is a disease of the pilosebceous unit that includes the hair follicle and the sebaceous (oil producing) gland. The sebaceous glands secrete an oily material called sebum which helps to keep the skin lubricated.
The problem with patients suffering form acne is that the canals through which the oily sebum flows become clogged. This can lead to a buildup of sebum underneath the skin surface which may appear as a whitehead. When the follicle becomes enlarged and sebum mixes with pigmented lining epithelial cells, the result is a blackhead.
Both whiteheads and blackheads are non-inflammatory. This means that although they are unsightly in appearance, they usually will not cause substantial scarring. However, some patients develop inflammatory lesions in the form of pustules, red papules and ruptured cysts. These are formed when accumulated sebum and bacterial products and go deeper into the skin. These are not only unsightly, but painful and many times cause considerable scarring.
Fortunately, there is help for acne. There are many treatments that are available today. These treatments come in many forms such as ointments and creams, special cleansers, oral antibiotics, and even light therapy. Because every case is different, a dermatologist can recommend what is the best solution for an individual. Plus, if there is already scarring, there are also treatments such as facial peels that can help to minimize the appearance of such scars.
