How To Know Acne

 Acne is a skin disease that causes spots. Many people affected by acne having age limit between 12 and 25.1 There are many treatments available to help and deal with the condition. What is acne? Acne is a skin condition that typically causes one or more of the following: * blackheads (comedones) * whiteheads * red or yellow spots * greasy skin * scars Acne typically affects the skin of the face, back, neck, chest and arms and the severity of the condition can vary from person to person. Acne affects people of all skin colors and types. There are certain treatments available which  help  to deal with the condition. What is acne? Acne is a skin condition that typically causes one or more of the following: * blackheads * whiteheads* red or yellow spots * greasy skin * scars. Acne typically affects the skin of the face, back, neck, chest and arms and the severity of the condition can vary.1,4 Acne affects people of all skin colors.  Acne is very common and affects about 80 in 100 people aged 11-30 at some time.4  The surface of the skin has lots of small sebaceous glands just below the surface. These glands make an oily substance called sebum that keeps the skin smooth and supple.  Hairs also grow through these pores. Acne is caused by the overactivity of the sebaceous glands that secrete oily substances onto the skin. The sebaceous glands of people with acne are especially sensitive to normal blood levels of a hormone called testosterone, found naturally in both men and women. Testosterone in people prone to acne triggers the sebaceous glands to produce an excess of sebum. These two effects combined cause a build-up of oil in the hair follicles. This causes blackheads and whiteheads to form. For some people, their acne does not progress beyond this stage. However, in other people, the build-up of oil in the hair follicles creates an ideal environment for a bacterium called Propionibacterium acne to grow. These bacteria normally live harmlessly on your skin, but when this ideal environment is created, they grow. They feed off the sebum and produce substances that cause a response from your body’s immune system. This inflames the skin and creates the redness associated with spots. In more severe ‘inflammatory acne’, cysts develop beneath the skin’s surface. These acne cysts can rupture, spreading the infection into nearby skin tissue. This may result in scarring. What makes acne worse? There are a number of things that can make your acne worse. These include the following: * picking and squeezing the spots may cause further inflammation and scarring1 * stress can make acne worse in some people, although it is not clear why1, * in women, outbreaks may be affected by the hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle1, * excessive production of male hormones such as testosterone from conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome may be another cause.  Your GP will advise you which contraceptive pill to take * some medicines can make acne worse. For example, some drugs taken for epilepsy, and steroid ointments and creams that are used for eczema. An alternative may be an option * steroids can cause acne as a side effect Treatment Acne may cause you considerable emotional distress, but there is a range of treatment options to help you tackle the problem. No treatment will fully ‘cure’ your acne. The aims of treatment are to prevent new spots formation, to improve those already present, and to prevent scarring.3 It is important to keep spot-prone areas clean, so wash the affected area twice a day with an unperformed cleanser.1,6 The skin needs a certain amount of oil to maintain its natural condition, so avoid aggressive washing with strong soaps. There are a number of OTC remedies available from pharmacies to treat mild acne. These usually contain antibacterial products such as benzoyl peroxide. As well as its antibacterial effects, benzoyl peroxide can dry out the skin and encourage it to shed the surface layer of dead skin. Together, these effects make it harder for pores to become blocked and for infection to develop. Benzoyl peroxide can cause redness and peeling, especially to start with. This tends to settle down if you reduce the number of times you use it. You can then build up your use gradually. No home treatments for acne will work immediately. It can take weeks, if not months, for significant effects to be noticeable. Many topical treatments you may be prescribed, including those listed below:  medicines based on vitamin A, which are rubbed into the skin once or twice a day.7  oral antibiotics (tablets), such as tetracycline, can be prescribed for inflammatory acne. They should be taken daily for around three months, although it might take four to six months for the benefits to be seen.7 Antibiotics do not prevent pores from becoming blocked so treatment to prevent blackheads, such as benzoyl peroxide, is often also prescribed at the same time * some types of oral contraceptive tablets help women who have acne.