Acne is a common skin condition producing pimples on the face and upper torso. Acne is caused by an interaction between hormones, skin oils, and bacteria that result in inflammation of hair folicles. Acne occurs mostly on the face, upper chest, shoulders, and back and is characterized by pimples, cysts, and sometimes abscesses. Both cysts and abscesses are pus-filled pockets, but abscesses are somewhat larger and deeper.

Sebaceous glands, which secrete an oily substance (sebum), lie in the dermis, the middle layer of skin. These glands are attached to the hair follicles. The sebum, along with dead skin cells, passes up from the sebaceous gland and hair follicle and out to the surface of the skin through the pores. Click Here to learn how to stop scarring, and stopped wasting money no expensive medications and over the counter product.

Acne results when a collection of dried sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria clog the hair follicles, blocking the sebum from leaving through the pores. If the blockage is incomplete, a blackhead (open comedone) develops; if the blockage is complete, a whitehead (closed comedone) develops. The blocked sebum-filled hair follicle promotes overgrowth of the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes, which are normally present in the hair follicle.

The activity of bacteria Proprionobacterium acnewithin the comedones releases free fatty acids from sebum, causes inflammation within the cyst, and results in rupture of the cyst wall. An inflammatory foreign-body reaction develops as a result of extrusion of oily and keratinous debris from the cyst.

Acne occurs mainly during puberty, when the sebaceous glands are stimulated by increased hormone levels, especially the androgens (such as testosterone), resulting in excessive sebum production. By a person’s early to mid 20s, hormone production stabilizes and acne usually disappears. Other conditions that involve hormonal changes can affect the occurrence of acne as well.

For example, acne may occur with each menstrual period in young women and may clear up or substantially worsen during pregnancy. The use of certain drugs, particularly corticosteroids and anabolic steroids, can cause acne by stimulating the sebaceous glands. Certain cosmetics may worsen acne by clogging the pores.

Because acne naturally varies in severity for most people. Sometimes worsening, sometimes improving, pinpointing the factors that may produce an outbreak is difficult. Acne is often worse in the winter and better in the summer, for unknown reasons. Acne ranges from mild to very severe. Yet, even mild acne can be vexing, especially to teenagers, who see each pimple as a major cosmetic challenge.

People with mild (superficial) acne develop only a few non-inflamed blackheads or a moderate number of small, mildly irritated pimples. Most acne occurs on the face but is also common on the shoulders, back, and upper chest.

Anabolic steroid use typically causes acne on the shoulders and upper back. Blackheads appear as tiny, dark dots at the center of a small swelling of normal-colored skin. Pimples are mildly uncomfortable and have a white center surrounded by a small area of reddened skin.

Mild acne usually does not leave scars. However, squeezing pimples or trying to open them in other ways increases inflammation and the depth of injury to the skin, making scarring more likely. The nodules and abscesses of severe acne often rupture and, after healing, typically leave scars.

Scars may be tiny, deep holes (ice pick scars), wider pits of varying depth, or large, irregular indentations. Acne scars last a lifetime and, for some people, are cosmetically significant and a source of psychologic stress.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, November 26th, 2006 at 11:23 am and is filed under Acne. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.