Acne
is one of the most common skin conditions, affecting most
teenagers between 16 and 19 years and up to 20% of adults.
For many people acne is
a real problem. It's painful, distressing and embarrassing,
affecting self esteem.
There are numerous acne
treatments available. But many of them are useless; others
are worse than useless and are actually harmful.
But effective treatments
do exist, and should be started early because treating acne
reduces the likelihood of acne leaving permanent scarring.
The medical term for acne
is acne vulgaris. It's a disease of the skin caused by excess
production of sebum in the skin. Sebum is a wax that keeps
the skin waterproof. It's produced by the sebaceous glands,
which are attached to the hair follicles in the skin (pores
which carry shafts of hair). The sebum travels from the sebaceous
glands up to the skin via the skin pores.
For reasons we don’t
completely understand, acne prone skin produce too many skin
cells. When these cells reach the surface of the skin and
die, they mix with sebum and block up the hair follicles.
Because sebum is still being produced, it builds up behind
the blockage. This causes a swelling, which may then burst
out into the surrounding layers of skin. This causes inflammation
– pain, redness, and swelling. Bacteria may invade the
area, and pus can form.
This Acne cycle causes different
types of sores and blemishes, depending on the stage of the
cycle. So someone with acne may have one or more of the following:
Blackheads
– these are a collection of dead cells and sebum blocking
the pore (the blackness is not dirt, just discolouration)
Whiteheads
– sebum is building up behind the blockage causing a
lump, which hasn't opened into the skin
Papules
– the sebum has broken out into the layers beneath the
surface of the skin and caused inflammation, so it appears
as painful reddish lumps
Pustules
– the inflammation has turned into pus and broken through
to the skin to form the classic yellow 'pimple'
Cysts and Nodules
– these are painful lumps caused by inflammation in
the skin
Open Sores
– usually pimples that have been scratched, exposing
them to the air
Scars –
pockmarked, sometimes darkened, areas of skin left after large
pustules (and sometimes even small pimples) have healed.
Sebaceous gland activity
is governed by the sex hormones. The oestrogens (the female
sex hormones) suppress the sebaceous glands, whereas the androgens
(the male sex hormones) stimulate them. Males and females
have both types of sex hormones.
During the teen years the
blood levels of sex hormones rise, and this is the reason
why acne is more common in teenagers.
Adult acne may often be
the result of an hormone imbalance in females, and it is important
to have this investigated by your doctor, particularly if
you have other symptoms of an hormonal imbalance such as irregular
periods and/or excess body hair.
Acne can also be caused
by taking extra hormones, in the form of anabolic steroids,
corticosteroid medication; and some hormone treatments.
The good news is Acne can
be successfully controlled with the Clearskincare Acne Programme.
The Clearskincare Acne Programme is a comprehensive treatment
programme. We diagnose the underlying cause of your acne,
initiate a skincare and treatment programme to control your
breakouts and we offer a range of treatments to improve the
appearance of both pigmented and depressed acne scarring.
Every programme is individually tailored and your progress
is carefully monitored to ensure the best outcome.
If you would like more information
about the Clearskincare Acne Programme please contact one
of our skin consultants or complete our Online Consultation.
