Acne is an inflammatory disease which occurs when the sebaceous glands and the lining of the hair follicle begin to work overtime. Sebaceous glands secrete sebum or natural oil which helps the skin to remain smooth and wrinkle free. The pores on the skin allow the sebum to come on the surface of the skin. Normally, the lining of the hair follicle sheds cells that are carried to the surface of the skin by the sebum. Hair too grows from these pores. Hormonal imbalances or other internal factors can make the glands to produce excess sebum. When this sebum comes in contact with dead skin cells that are present at the openings of the hair follicles (the dead cells accumulate as they are not shed properly), they clog up the follicles forming a plug. If the plug stays below the surface of the skin, it is called a whitehead. If the plug enlarges and pops out of the duct, it is called a blackhead because the top is dark. This is not dirt and will not wash away. The discoloration is due to the way light is absorbed by
the skin cells within the opening.
There are other causes of acne. In some people, the oil in the hair follicles provides natural food for the Propionibacterium acnes to grow. They then produce substances that cause the body’s immunity to respond which leads to inflammations on the skin. If the inflammation becomes severe it leads to formation of cysts which when rupture, cause infection which spreads to other parts of the skin.
Diet and hygiene are not causes of acne but hereditary factors surely are.
Treatment for acne includes prevention of new spots from forming and improvement of skin by preventing more acne from developing and preventing scarring.
Home treatment for acne includes washing the affected areas with a gentle soap. Take care not to scrub the skin too hard as it can cause scarring and cause the acne to get worse. Do not pick or squeeze the acne.
Acne treatment buzz which advises the use of antibacterial agents like benzoyl peroxide is true since the agent dries out the skin and cleans the skin by removing all dead cells. Thus it prevents the pores from getting blocked.
There are creams and lotions like Azelaic acid which is a better alternative to benzoyl peroxide. Creams containing retinoids have vitamin A which removes the dead cells from the skin. Clindamycin and erythromycin help to control the acne bacteria but have to be used for at least six months to take effect.
Oral medicines are another acne treatment buzz which work wonders. Antibiotics like tetracycline need to be taken for many months to help control the growth of acne bacteria.
A combination of the usual contraceptive pill hormone called ethinylestradiol with cyproterone acetate suppresses the activity of testosterone and reduces sebum production. This helps in preventing acne from spreading.
Isotretinoin is a medicine known as an oral retinoid and can only be prescribed under the supervision of a dermatologist. It works by drying up oily secretions. People with severe acne who have proved resistant to other treatments of acne are generally prescribed isotretinoin as a last resort. There are a number of serious side-effects of this drug, such as liver disorders and depression. Isotretinoin is not to be given to pregnant women as its very dangerous for an unborn baby.
Treatment of acne should begin early as not only is it more effective then but it also helps to prevent scarring.
