Acne - The Equal Opportunity Disease
INTRODUCTION: Acne is the name for plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and also deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) that happen on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and even the upper arms.
It is a skin condition that occurs due to the over production of oil by the oil glands of the skin and is most common in teenagers, but it can happen at any age, even as an infant. It is a complex problem, but one we are learning more about it every day.
TREATMENTS: Treatments include medicines and creams. Americans spend well over a hundred million dollars a year for non-prescription acne treatments, not even taking into account special soaps and cleansers. For that reason, you should use appropriate treatments for acne.
Also, many treatments magnifies the skin’s sensitivity to ultraviolet light, making the risk of ultraviolet light exposure even worse. Your dermatologist will decide which treatments are best for your problem.
For addition information about the types of treatments that are available, and for basic acne treatment guidelines, please see your physician or dermatologist.
The majority of mild cases can be effectively treated at home, with good daily skin care and over-the-counter solutions, such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.
If you are suffering from moderate to a severe form or home remedies are not working for you, contact your physician. There are many treatment remedies which range from covering up your symptoms using creams to attacking the basis for your pimples.
BACTERIA: Tissue injured by squeezing or picking can become infected by staphylococci, streptococci and other skin bacteria. In the process, these bacteria produce irritating substances that can cause inflammation. Now the oil and bacteria that should be coming to the surface of the skin is stuck.
The same bacteria and oils that are causing you to break out are also on your hands. Squeezing your pimples does nothing more than deposit and push more bacteria and oil into your skin.
CONCLUSION: Acne is an equal opportunity problem, with out regard to race, culture, gender or even your age. Although many people feel that their acne is aggravated by certain types of foods, especially chocolate, colas, peanuts, shellfish and some fatty foods, there is no scientific evidence that suggests food causes or has any influence on it.
Avoid any foods which seem to worsen your problem and for your overall health, eat a balanced diet–but diet shouldn’t really matter if the acne is being appropriately treated. The best means for preventing the disease is to maintain a proper skin care regimen that includes regular use of masks and exfoliants.
