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Acne - The Lowdown On This Four Letter Word |
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Acne is considered pimples, zits, blackheads, and
whiteheads. These are all part of the same irritating ailment that
affects so many, especially teenagers. In fact, many people consider
acne the most irritating thing about puberty. At a time when teenagers
tend to be very self conscious and are going through physical changes,
cracking voices, menstrual cycles, facial hair, and hair growing in
strange places, these darn pimples come along to make things even more
complex. Where in the world do they come from?
Common acne is officially known as acne vulgaris. This blemish producing
blight is caused by multiple factors. During puberty the body produces
an excess of the male hormone testosterone. Also, female menstrual
cycles cause changes in the body that throw the hormone balance a bit
out of whack. Add to this the other changes in the adolescent body that
begins the process of turning them into adults, and acne is on its way.
Much of the problems caused by acne come from the bacteria that is
normally present on skin, a staff like bacteria that grows in abundance,
especially in clogged pores filled with dead skin cells.
Other
things can cause acne as well, or make it worse. Exposure to too much
chlorine can cause a long lasting and nasty type of acne, and use of
anabolic steroids can cause acne, in addition to many other health
problems that they can cause.
For many years people thought that
acne was caused by poor hygiene, and kids would scrub their faces raw in
an effort to open up pores and get rid of pimples and blackheads. That
actually may make the problem worse by damaging the skin. Also for many
years people thought that certain foods would make some people more
prone to acne. Fried foods were blamed, as was chocolate. This may have
been a natural assumption. Teenagers often eat candy bars and other
chocolate foods. Also teenagers tend to be fans of fried foods, such as
hamburgers, French fries, tator tots, fish and chips, and fried chicken.
Many people associated oily skin with greasy foods, but there is no
medical or scientific connection. Acne is a nasty, but natural part of
growing up.
Most people outgrow acne as their bodies change and
puberty ends. In fact, by the time most people reach their twenties they
are through with the ravages of acne. For a few people it may hang on
longer, but for the vast majority of people it is a temporary and
passing thing. Time will cure most cases as a person passes into
adulthood.
The types of acne blemishes are divided into two
different categories, inflamed and non-inflamed. Non-inflamed blemishes
are called blackheads or whiteheads. The whitehead is a clogged follicle
that plugs the skin pore. The mass is made up of dead skin cells. The
blackhead is in essence the same thing, but it has opened up and become
oxidized, creating the darker tint. Many people think that blackheads
come from dirt, but that is not the case.
Inflamed blemishes are
those that are commonly call pimples or zits. These blemishes are
usually reddish and look inflamed. The red pimple is classic. A bit more
troublesome is the larger cyst. Pimples develop when a whitehead does
not turn into a blackhead and plugs the pore so that it can be expelled.
Instead the pore wall breaks down and becomes a repository for oil, dead
skin cells, bacteria and other debris of the body. White blood cells
congregate in the blemish to fight the infection, and form a puss
substance, that can become painful. Everyone is familiar with pimples.
The larger cyst can be even more painful, and it can flair up again and
again and may require medical attention.
There are many
misconceptions about acne. Some people think that the sun will cure acne
and seek a suntan as a cure all. However, this has no positive effect,
simply darkening the skin just makes pimples harder to see, and the side
effects can be wrinkles and skin cancer in later life. However, there
are many treatments available for acne that can lessen the impact it has
on the lives of the victims. Many good over the counter remedies,
natural remedies, and when needed prescription, drugs can help.
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