Acne
An introduction to Acne...
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Acne FAQs
What follows are some frequently asked questions about acne:
Why does adult acne occur most often in women?
What is acne?
Acne is a disease of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles that results in pimples and blemishes of the face, chest and back. It is a chronic condition that transcends gender, age and race. Heredity may determine the severity of the condition.
What causes acne?
The cause of acne is generally unknown, although hormones and stress can be contributing factors. It is not caused by junk food or dirt. It is usually managed effectively with nonprescription treatments. More severe cases require treatment by a physician and the use of prescription drugs.
How is acne controlled?
Even after blemishes disappear, a consistent acne-fighting regimen is recommended as the most effective way to keep the skin clear and healthy. Maintaining the skin's moisture balance is essential to controlling acne. If skin is very dry, the body sometimes responds by producing more oil, which increases the chance of pores clogging. Some acne products actually dry the skin and cause irritation that could undermine the desired result.
How does acne form?
How acne forms—
When androgen levels rise, this causes the sebaceous glands to enlarge. This in turn increases the amount of sebum secreted into the follicular canal.
At the same time, the follicular canal's lining cells obstruct the exit of sebum to the surface of the skin. The obstructed canal is known as a clogged pore.
If the obstruction remains below the skin's surface, it is called a whitehead. If it reaches the surface, it is called a blackhead.
The accumulation of sebum and dead slkin cells is an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria. if hey invade the follicle, inflammation occurs, which results in red spots. This is known as inflammatory acne. In extreme cases, the inflamation is so severe that the follicle ruptures, which can cause scarring. Back to Acne FAQs.
Why does adult acne occur often in women?
Androgens are a leading contributor to acne. They stimulate the development of sebaceous follicles and attached oil glands.
Stress also stimulates the adrenal glands, which is the other leading factor contributing to acne in adult women.
These two factors affect women greatly during mentrual cycles when hormones are very active.
What are topical acne treatments?
trertonin (Retin-A)
adapalene
topical antibiotics
salicylic acid 2
benzoyl peroxide
azelaic acid
aufur/resorcinol
What are systemic oral treatments?
isotretinoin (Acutane)
tetracycline — antibiotic
minocyline — antibiotic
doxycycline — antibiotic
erythromycin — antibiotic
clindamycin — antibiotic
cotrimoxazole — antibiotic
oral contraceptives for female acne