Saving Face With Acne Skin Care

[myron fehr]

Acne: What causes this condition that seems to chip away at the very
foundations of self esteem with an almost malevolent intent? The myth
is that once teenagers cross the threshold from adolescence into
adulthood, the anguish caused by acne will be permanently left behind.
The reality is that there is no guarantee that adulthood will offer
the safe, acne-free haven that so many teens long for. Statistics
indicate that 25% of the male population is plagued at some point by
adult acne, while 50% of females will similarly find themselves
contending with the condition as adults.
It seems that no one is exempt. Infant acne can appear on the faces
babies who are only three or four weeks old, or even on the faces of
newborns.
Since so many are afflicted - adult and child alike - there's an
obvious need for real information on acne skin care that cuts through
all the myths and separates fact from fiction. But we can't really
talk about acne and the best approach to take regarding skin care
until we know a few basics. So let's begin at the beginning.
It all starts with sebum. Sebum is the natural oil produced by the
skin's sebaceous glands. For reasons that aren't fully understood, the
pores of the skin can become plugged with sebum, and once plugged,
bacteria and dead cells can become trapped in the pores, resulting in
the lesions commonly associated with acne. Here's a good working
definition: acne be defined as a condition describing blocked skin
pores that result in lesions.
The most common lesions are called comedones. There are two basic
varieties of comedones: 'white heads' and 'black heads'. A white head
is a plugged pore that has begun to bulge outward from the skin due to
dead skin cells, bacteria, and other contaminants that have become
trapped inside. This bulging dome shape often assumes a white
appearance. Black heads are simply comedones that have become opened,
exposing the dark follicle plug inside. Acne comedones are often
referred to colloquially as "zits" or "pimples."
Microcomedones are a less common form of acne lesion, sometimes
referred to as papules. These are basically small comedones that form
from localized cellular reactions to the processes that cause acne.
They usually occur in clusters and are sometimes too small to see, but
can be felt as a series of little bumps along the skin surface.
In more severe forms of acne, cysts, pustules and nodules and can
form. A pustule is like a normal comedone, but larger due to a higher
amount of dead white cells, or pus, trapped inside the plugged
sebaceous follicle. Nodules are a more severe form of papules,
extending deeper into the skin tissue and resulting in large raised
legions that are usually inflamed, and painful to touch. Cysts are
very large fluid filled sacs that can result from pustules or nodules.
Though none of these forms of acne are dangerous or life threatening,
they can leave scars and are sometimes very disfiguring.
What about acne causes? This is a question that scientists and doctors
still haven't been able to completely agree upon. Today, most theories
seem to point to a combination of factors that include genetics,
hormone changes, and stress. For years it was thought that diet was a
strong component to acne, but most evidence today suggests that
hormones and stress are more likely to be the culprits.
Almost everyone will have some form of acne in their lives. Most
people get acne during their teenage years, associated with the
massive hormone changes that occur during puberty. It is equally
common to men and women, and usually occurs in facial regions.
However, acne can begin or persist at any stage in adult life, and can
sometimes occur on the back, neck, arms and legs.
The good news is that the situation regarding acne and acne skin care
is by no means hopeless. Effective acne treatment exists. And while it
might not be realistic to expect some sort of magical acne cure, there
are ways to effectively tackle the problem. If you follow the easy to
implement acne tips and information you find here, there's a good
possibility you'll be able to minimize your breakouts or avoid them
altogether.
Does chocolate cause acne? Poor hygiene? Smoking cigarettes? Compare
your answers with the facts at www.AcneSkinCareAtoZ.com.
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