Acne Problems

Acne is a condition where an individual\'s skin has long term and particularly problematic break outs. This is the result of a hormone imbalance and impacts most frequently during puberty or periods of hormone changes. Many times these break outs can result in peer ridicule or a decrease in self esteem or self confidence. The condition can have severely negative effects on a person\'s social life. The full name of the condition is Acne Vulgaris. While this inflammatory disease is annoying and can be a bit painful or unsightly, it is not any kind of serious threat to physical health.

An enlargement of the Sebaceous Glands can lead to a build up of sebum, which will clog the hair follicles and pores in the skin and result in severe breakouts. This enlargement of the Sebaceous Glands is a form of inflammatory disease, and often has nothing to do with poor skin hygiene or an unhealthy diet like some other breakouts of the skin. Acne is an extremely common problem (about 85% of people experience some form of acne during adolescence or early adulthood). High stress levels, or use of anabolic steroids can also cause forms of acne. Although in most cases hygiene is not a factor in the development of acne, it can exacerbate the problem. A “hands off” policy when it comes to acne is the best policy, as scratching at breakouts can also worsen the condition, as it is conducive to the growth of bacteria that cause pimples and breakouts of the skin. Intravenous use of opiates has also been linked to breakouts. Acne will usually diminish or disappear altogether as a person ages. The hormones testosterone and dihydrotestosterone have been linked in correlation with this inflammatory disease.

Acne is usually found on the face and forehead. Acne on the chest, back and neck is less common but still normal. Acne is somewhat hereditary but if a history of bad acne in your family does not guarantee that you will suffer from the disease. Another skin condition called Roseacea is similar to acne but usually forms later in life, during adulthood. Acne mostly affects people during adolescence or periods of increased stress due to work or family life.

While the correlation between a poor diet and the severity of this disease is generally highly debated, some foods have been found to make existing conditions worse. These foods may include food that has a high amount of refined sugars, or those with a high concentration of iodine. The impact of these foods is usually negligible, if you have problematic acne you may want to try to stay away from them. Again, the relationship between food and acne is minimal at best, so refraining from eating these foods may or may not reduce or impact acne at all.

Because of the correlation between acne and hormones, medications that manipulate these hormones may be used to treat the condition. Other medications include topical creams, and deep cleansing products that may be sold over the counter or are prescribed by a dermatologist. It is important to remember that the disease is extremely widespread, especially during adolescence and is a fairly normal experience for many people.

Acne can leave deep scars in its wake. These scars can be treated with laser therapy, in which a technician will minutely remove raised skin around the scars leaving the surface of the skin more uniform and will eliminate pitting of the skin. There are many more options when dealing with acne or the long term effects it has on the skin. If this condition is a problem for you, it is possible a dermatologist will be able to help or minimize breakouts over time. Although there is no “cure” for the disease, a dermatologist can lessen it\'s intensity or the long term damage that may occur as a result of acne.