Acne-A Part Of Growing Up:

What Is Acne?
Acne is the general term for plugged pores, pimples, and deeper lumps that can occur on the face, neck, upper back, chest, or shoulders.It is a skin condition that occurs when the oil-secreting glands in the skin are clogged and become inflamed or infected.Acne is so common that it can almost be considered a normal part of growing up.While it affects the majority of teenagers, it can also appear later in life.Both boys and girls get acne but boys face the brunt because they have more skin oils.85% of adolescents develop acne.Among adults, 12% of women and 3% of men have acne.

How Does It Occur?
In order to understand how acne comes about, it is important to get an idea of how our skin functions.The skin contains numerous glands, called sebaceous glands, which secrete an oil, called sebum, that lubricates the skin and keeps it soft and pliable.The protective outer layer of the skin is made up of dead cells which are constantly shed and are replaced by new ones.In the teenage years hormones stimulate the growth of body hair and the oil glands secrete more oil.If not regularly cleaned the dead cells on the surface of the skin clump together, thereby plugging the hair follicle's opening, so sebum cannot reach the surface of the skin.Bacteria grow in these clogged pores and produce chemicals and enzymes that causes inflammation.When the plugged follicle cannot hold its contents any longer, it bursts and spills everything onto the nearby skin-sebum, shed skin cells, and bacteria.This irritates the skin and results in the developement of lesions or pimples, better known as whiteheads, blackheads and pustules.

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Things That Often Make Acne Worse

1.Oil-based make-up, suntan oil, hair gels and sprays.

2.Stress.

3.Menstruation in girls.

4.Squeezing or picking at blemishes.

5.Scrubbing the skin hard.

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Do's And Don'ts In Treating Acne:
1.Avoid scrubbing your skin or using abrasive soaps.Hard scrubbing of the skin is harmful because it irritates the openings of thye oil glands and can cause them to be more tightly closed.
2.Avoid putting any oily or greasy substances on your face.Oily and greasy substances make acne worse by blocking the glands.If you must use cover-up cosmetics, use water-based cosmetics and wash them off at bedtime.
3.Avoid hair tonics or hair creams(especially greasy ones.When you sweat these substances will spread to your cafe and aggravate the acne.Try to keep your hair clean.
4.Don't stop your acne medicine too soon.

It takes about 8 weeks to see a good response.

Personal Habits And Acne

1.Wash your face 2 times a day with a gentle soap.Change your towel every day.Bacteria can grow on damp cloth.

2.Wash your hands often.It's a good idea not to touch your face.Don't rest your face on your hands while you study, read, or watch TV.

3.Don't Squeeze, pick, scratch, or rub your pimples.You may get scars.

4.Shampoo your hair at least twice a week.Pull your hair away from your face when you sleep.Style it away from your face during the day.

5.When choosing make-up, women should be sure to choose water-based, oil-free cosmetics.

6.Wash as soon as you can after you exercise.

7.If certain foods seem to make your acne worse, do not eat those foods.

8.Try not to work in hot kitchens where greasy foods are cooked.

9.Try not to get sunburnt.

10.Try not to become stressed.Take some quiet time, get exercise, or talk to a counsellor, if needed.

11.Talk to your doctor.Keep a record of the medicines you have tried.Write down how they have worked.Don't give up.Keep working with your doctor until you find a way to keep your skin clear.

How Is Acne Treated?

Treatment is aimed at keeping oil and dirt out of the pores and reducing inflammation.It must be borne in mind that by popping and squeezing pimples yourself, you run the risk of lifelong scarring.Treatment of acne involves a step-by-step approach, beginning with milder medications and continuing through a spectrum of stronger medications until the patient finds one that works.In mild and moderate cases, your doctor will begin with topical gels, creams, or lotions, progressing to internal medications.Some of these medications can produce side-effects, so it is important to put questions to your doctor and read the medication labels carefully.In general, your doctor will try to use the simplest effective regimen.Medicines with greater risks can be used, but only if needed.Certain acne medications make the patient photosensitive(sensitive to sunlight)so the patient and doctor both need to consider the patient's outdoor activities.Hormone therapy can also work for a lot of women.Hormone-based treatments may help to clear up acne by inhibiting sebaceous gland function.It may take upto 6-8 weeks to see the results of any given treatment, and it is not uncommon for acne to worsen before it gets better.Redness, swelling in the skin, and changes in skin pigment, especially the darkening of skin in darker skinned individuals, may take many months to resolve, persisting long after pimples go away.It is important to stick with the treatment regimen between appointments so your doctor can figure out what works or doesn't work for you.The regimen for curing acne is generally well established, if not entirely predictable.By taking consistent action and visiting your physician, you can quickly get on the road to healthier skin.

Acne Prevention:
Unfortunately, acne is not entirely preventable.However, by washing the face gently twice a day with a mild cleanser and refraining from picking any lesions, one can reduce the chance for acne outbreaks and permanent scarring.An acne outbreak can be a catastrophic event for an individual, but fortunately it is rarely a lifelong problem.Working with your doctor to find the right treatment should improve acne in a matter of months.