What is Acne?
Acne, most commonly known as pimples, is the worst nightmare for those too
unfortunate to suffer. It is the most common skin disease today. In United
States alone, nearly 60 million people are infected with acne, where 85 per
cent of teenagers suffer from it.
Acne is a disorder resulting from the action of hormones on the skin's oil
glands (sebaceous glands), which leads to plugged pores and outbreaks of
lesions commonly called pimples or zits. Acne lesions usually occur on the
face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders.
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Acne can involve mild to severe outbreaks of pimples and cysts on the face and
sometimes on the back, shoulders and chest.
In most people, acne will last for about three to four years and in 15% of the
cases, acne can continue for eight-12 years. In a smaller percentage (5%), acne
will last beyond age 25 and can continue up to age 40.
In 70% of the cases, women will notice a flare-up in the acne condition prior
their menstrual period perhaps due to an increase of androgens.
Women with a lot of body or facial hair, and those who have irregular periods,
may be at increased risk of acne. These women may want to have their hormone
levels evaluated by a physician.
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Here are several acne terms that can help you better understand acne.
Comedos are simply a plugged and enlarged hair follicle. When
a comedo is open, it is usually called a blackhead. When it is closed or deep
into the skin, it is usually called whitehead. The whitehead differs in color
from the blackhead because the opening of the plugged sebaceous follicle to the
skin’s surface is closed or very narrow, in contrast to the distended
follicular opening of the blackhead. Neither blackheads nor whiteheads should
be squeezed or picked open, unless extracted by a dermatologist under sterile
conditions. Tissue injured by squeezing or picking can become infected by
staphylococci, streptococci and other skin bacteria.
Cysts are lumps under the skin that have pus and other tissue
in them, and they can be red, swollen and sore – but they do not come to a head
like pimples do. Cysts can cause scarring and blotchy, uneven skin colour.
Pimples the ones that form a head, sometimes with a white head
of pus that may "erupt" if squeezed (which you shouldn't do!). Pimples usually
heal without scars.
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