Acne
Acne & Problem Skin
The skin is not only the largest organ of the body, but it’s also one of the first things that people notice about a person. This is why it is particularly troubling to have problematic skin, acne or pimples. It is physically uncomfortable, often painful, and can severely impact self-esteem. In this article, we do a deep dive into what exactly acne and pimples are, what causes them and the available avenues of treatment.
What is Acne?
Acne, also known as Acne Vulgaris, is a skin condition typically characterized by pimples, blackheads or whiteheads, nodules and cysts, especially on the face, due to inflamed or infected sebaceous glands and is prevalent chiefly among adolescents and young adults.
What Are The Symptoms Of Acne?
Acne often presents with a combination of the following lesions:
- Whiteheads – Closed plugged pores
- Blackheads – Open plugged pores
- Papules – Small, tender red bumps
- Pimples/Pustules – Papules with pus at their tips
- Nodules – Large, solid, painful lumps beneath the surface of the skin
- Cystic Lesions – Painful, pus-filled lumps beneath the surface of the skin
What Causes Acne?
Acne is caused by a combination of four primary factors:
The overproduction of sebum (oil produced by the sebaceous gland in the skin) is stimulated by the over production of Androgen. Androgens are a class of hormones that are typically responsible for the development and maintenance of male characteristics.
An accumulation of dead skin cells (keratinocytes) clog up the pores or openings to the hair follicles due to poor natural exfoliation and skin dehydration. Sebum is produced by sebaceous glands which are generally attached to a hair follicle and normally exit the gland through the pores of each follicle.
When the sebaceous gland overproduces sebum and the follicle’s pore is clogged up with the dead keratinocytes, the follicle then becomes susceptible to infection by Propionibacterium Acnes (p.acnes) bacteria. The environment created by the blocked pore and excessive sebum is ideal for the increased growth of the p.acnes bacteria, which in turn leads to inflammation.
As the gland swells, it eventually ruptures and spills its contents into the surrounding dermis, causing an acne lesion.
Acne is often most severe on the face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders because these areas have the highest concentration of sebaceous glands.
Factors that trigger acne are: stress, intolerances to foods and drinks that affect the gut and thereby affect the liver, exercise and sweating, steroid or drug use, incorrect product/ingredients or environmental or occupational hazards. Certain supplements and medication can be an aggravating factor, so it is important to read the package inserts for prescribed and over the counter medication and consult a prescribing doctor for possible alternatives.