What
Causes Acne?

Acne inflicts most people at some stage of their lives, most commonly during puberty. Contrary to the popular myth, acne is not caused by eating greasy foods and chocolates. The exact reason why people get acne is still not fully understood although it is known to run in the family. Listed here are the most commonly associated reasons for acne. However, it is important to keep in mind that in every person the cause of acne can differ.

Hormonal activity

The most common cause of acne is a change in the hormone levels in the body. This especially occurs during puberty, although in women, it can also happen during menstruation, pregnancy and menopause, and after adolescence as well. In the case of the latter it is classified as adult acne. The elevated hormone levels cause the sebaceous glands present under the hair shaft to produce more oil or sebum. Sebum is generally released to lubricate and protect the skin. However, when this excessive sebum combines with the dead skin cells, it clogs the skin pores and instigates acne.

Dead skin cells

During puberty the cells that line the hair follicles tend to be shed off more rapidly, hence creating an accumulation of dead skin cells. Normally this accumulation of cells would drain out with the sebum. However, in acne-prone skin, the sebum and these dead skin cells stick together and plug the pore of the skin. These plugs clog the pores and trap the bacteria inside, which is allowed to proliferate freely. It ends up forming a comedone – a whitehead or a blackhead, which is the beginning of acne.

Bacteria

Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is a kind of skin bacteria that has been associated with acne. When the sebum and dead skin cells plug the skin pore, it creates a perfect environment for this bacterium to multiply unchecked. This trapped mixture of sebum, dead cells and bacteria leaks into the adjoining tissues and is responsible for the inflammation, redness and the pus.

Contact with chlorine compounds

An exposure to high levels of chlorine compounds, especially chlorinated dioxins can also cause acne. This is a severe form of acne and is termed Chloracne.

Drugs

Reactions to some drugs and medications can also trigger off acne. For instance, it is now believed that although stress is not directly responsible for acne, but medications taken to treat chronic stress can set off an acne attack. Medications containing halogens like iodides, chlorides and bromides; lithium, barbiturates and androgens have all been linked to acne. Anabolic steroids, which are basically steroid hormones that promote cell growth and division and are taken for body building purposes, can also cause acne.

The author, Jack Smith writes about various topics. Please feel free to re-print this article. If you do re-print, please keep all links, bio information and article content unchanged. Thank You! Acne Info

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What Kinds of Acne are There?

Acne can range from mild to moderate to severely disfiguring and manifests itself in different forms in different people.

Acne Vulgaris is the most common form of acne and it includes several types of pimples. These include blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts. Nodules and cysts are considered as a severe form of acne vulgaris, while the rest are all considered as mild or moderate forms of acne.

1 Whiteheads come about when the skin pore becomes completely blocked, thereby trapping sebum, bacteria and dead skin cells, and causes a whitish appearance on the surface of the skin. Whiteheads are normally resolved faster than blackheads.

2 Blackheads result when a pore is only partially blocked, in which case, the trapped sebum, bacteria and dead skin cells are allowed to drain out to the surface of the skin. The black color, commonly assumed to be dirt, is in fact a reaction of the skin’s pigment, melanin, to the oxygen in the air. A black head can take a long time to clear.

3 Papules are small red and tender lesions. If squeezed, they can leave behind a permanent scar.

4 Pustules are inflamed whiteheads and have a red base with a yellowish centre. The yellowish centre contains bacteria, sebum and dead skin cells. Again, they are prone to leave scars if scratched or squeezed.

5 Nodules are much more painful than all the types mentioned above and they can last for months. They look like hard, large bumps under the skin’s surface. Do not attempt to squeeze a nodule. You can cause severe trauma to the skin and it will then take even longer to heal.

6 Cysts look like nodules but a filled with pus, and usually have a diameter of 5mm or more across. They can be quite painful and scarring is common in this type of acne.

Acne Rosacea

This type of acne looks very similar to acne vulgaris and the two are quite often confused for each other. Rosacea affects millions of people, who are usually above the age of 30. Its manifests itself as a red rash, often accompanied by bumps, pimples and blemishes, on the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. It is more commonly found in women, but when it occurs in men it is usually more severe. You should visit a dermatologist to determine if you have acne vulgaris or rosacea.

Other severe forms of acne, which are rare, include

1 Acne Conglobata, a severe form of acne vulgaris, is extremely disfiguring and causes irreversible damage to the skin.

2 Acne Fulminas, which is a sudden onset of acne conglobata. In addition to disfiguring and damaging nodules and cysts, this form is accompanied by fever and joint pains.

3 Gram-negative Follicultis is a bacterial infection which can result as a complication of an extended antibiotic treatment for acne vulgaris. It is characterized by pustules and cysts.

4 Pyoderma Faciale is severe facial acne which affects only women, usually aged between 20 to 40 years. It is characterized by painful and large nodules, pustules and sores. It develops suddenly and usually lasts only a year or but in that short time, is enough to brutally damage the skin.

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