ACNE CARE SOLUTIONS - Helping you to cope up with Acne

We present this site as an informative guide to understand acne and its treatments.

What is ACNE?

Acne is a common inflammatory skin disease characterized by pimples on the face, chest, and back. It occurs when the pores of the skin become clogged with oil, dead skin cells, and/or bacteria.

• Acne vulgaris, the medical term for common acne, is the most common skin disease.
• It affects nearly 17 million people in the United States.
• Nearly 85% of people develop acne some time between the ages of 12 and 25 years old.
• Up to 20% of women develop mild acne.
• Even it is found in some newborns.
• While acne can arise at any age, it usually begins at puberty and worsens during adolescence.

Understanding Acne and its Types

The sebaceous (oil-producing) glands lie just beneath the skin’s surface. They produce sebum, an oily secretion that helps to preserve the flexibility of the hair and moisturizes the skin. These glands and the hair follicles within which they are found are called sebaceous follicles. These follicles open onto the skin through pores that allow the sebum to reach the hair shaft and the skin. In certain situations, the glands excrete excess sebum and it cannot be cleared from the pores efficiently. This happens, for instance, at puberty when increased levels of the androgen hormones cause overproduction of sebum. In addition, cells lining the follicle are shed too quickly and begin to clump together. The excess sebum combines with the dead cells and forms a plug, or comedo (also called comedones), that blocks the pore, which is not usually seen. When the follicle begins to bulge and show up as a small whitish bump mostly under the skin, it is called a whitehead. If the comedo opens up, the top surface of the plug darkens, and it is referred to as a blackhead.

Infection results when a plugged follicle is invaded by Propionibacterium acnes, a bacteria that normally lives on the skin, and possibly other microorganisms. The bacteria produce chemicals and enzymes that bring on inflammation. Pimples are the result of infected blackheads or whiteheads that rupture, releasing sebum, bacteria, dead skin, and white blood cells onto the surrounding tissues.

• Inflamed pimples near the skin’s surface are called papules; they are red and raised, and may be quite tender to the touch.
• The papules may become filled with pus, and are then called pustules.
• If the follicle continues to enlarge rather than rupture, it forms a closed sac, called a cyst, which can be felt as a lump under the skin.
• Large hard swellings deep within the skin are called nodules. Both nodules and cysts may cause pain and scarring.

ACNE CAUSES

Acne Diagnosis

Acne has a characteristic appearance and is, therefore, not difficult to diagnose.

• A complete medical historyshould be taken, including questions about skin care, diet, factors that improve or worsen the condition, medication use, and prior treatment.
• Physical examination includes the face, upper neck, chest, shoulders, back, and other affected areas.
• Under good lighting, the doctor can determine what types and how many blemishes are present, whether they are inflamed, whether they are deep or superficial, and whether there is scarring or skin discoloration.
• Blood tests are done when the patient appears to have hormonal or other medical problems. Stool tests can be helpful in determining whether there is a bacterial or yeast overgrowth contributing to the condition.
• Food allergy testing should also be considered.

Note: You think you have got pimples and red, rashy skin, but you may actually have rosacea, an inflammation of the oil glands.