Acne
Acne and its treatment
Acne is a very common skin problem that about 80 percent of teenagers get between the ages of 13 and 17. About 5% of women and 1% of men aged 25 to 40 also get acne . The severity of acne normally reaches its peak by the age of 20. People with sensitive skin may continue to experience acne till they get 40.
Causes of Acne
There are many small sebaceous glands below the surface of our skin. These glands produce sebum that keeps our skin smooth. Tiny pores in the skin allow sebum produced by sebaceous glands to come to the surface of the skin. Hair also grows through these tiny pores. People prone to acne have sebaceous glands which are oversensitive to hormones called testosterone which is found naturally in men and women. Under the influence of testosterone, over activated sebaceous glands produce excess sebum.
Because of the excessive oil produces by sebaceous glands, the dead skin cells are not shed and clog up the hair follicles. As a result oil builds up in the hair follicles causing black and whiteheads. This excessive buildup of oil in the hair follicles allows a certain type of bacterium to grow. The growth of these bacteria cause an immune response resulting in the inflammation and redness of the skin. In severe cases, it can result in scars. Some other factors can also contribute to acne e.g. hormonal changes related to pregnancy or periods in women.
Acne Treatment
There are many acne treatments available ranging from local treatments such as Retin-A for mild to moderate acne, topical antibiotics to oral tablets such as Spironolactone. A combination of the usual contraceptive pill hormone called ethinylestradiol with cyproterone acetate (Dianette) suppresses testosterone activity. Dianette has been shown to reduce sebum production and it is a clinically proven treatment of acne in grownup women.
Acne Treatments Available at Hair Treatment 4U
