What is acne: Causes and Treatment

Acne is a skin disease typical of adolescence, leading to oily skin and pimples sitting mostly on the face, upper back and chest. Furthermore scars and more colored marks on the skin, acne complications are mostly psychological. Psychological suffering is sufficient reason to implement drug treatment against acne, although objectively acne is minor.

At a more or less intense degree, acne affects over 70% of teenagers, especially boys. Adult women may also be affected by acne, especially a few days before menstruation, when starting hormonal contraception (pill) during pregnancy or during menopause.

What Causes Acne?
Acne is not an infectious disease, although it can cause the appearance of infected pimples (pustules). Acne results from the combination of three factors.

The sebum hypersecretion
Sebum is a fatty substance produced by the sebaceous glands, which are located in the hair follicles, small bags buried in the skin that produce hair and hair. Sebum protects the skin from drying out. In acne, under the action of s3x hormones, the amount of sebum produced is abnormally high.

Seborrheic retention
In acne, the walls of the channel that connects each hair follicle at the surface of the skin tend to thicken and partially blocking diffusion of sebum from the follicle. Seborrheic retention is responsible for the formation of comedones ("black spots" or white buttons).

Inflammation of follicles
Acne can lead to inflammation of a follicle, related both to damage to the follicle excess sebum and the proliferation of a microorganism called Propionibacterium acnes, a naturally occurring bacteria in the follicles and that feeds on sebum.
How to diagnosed acne?
Diagnosis is made on the basis of lesions and patient characteristics (age, s3x, control pills or other medications, etc.). Depending of injuries and their extent, the doctor defines the severity of acne: mild, moderate or severe. Severe acne is characterized by the presence of nodules and cysts in the deep layers of the skin, increasing the risk of lasting scar.

Hygiene measures in case of acne
In no case do scratch or squeeze pimples, which would increase the risk of irreversible scarring.
To wash, choose a gel or a bread called "soap", which dries the skin less. Then thoroughly moisturize your skin, although it tends to be oily.
Make up your least possible. Avoid oily cosmetics and makeup. Prefer products labeled "noncomedogenic".
Men should shave to limit the occasions when it is essential. For those who prefer wet shaving, it is best to use disposable razors changed each shave.

Beware of the sun! If the lesions appear to be improving in the first place, the sun can trigger acne breakouts in the weeks after exposure. In addition, ultraviolet rays cause dark pigmentation scars that do not disappear when the missing tan. We must be especially vigilant as the sun increases the skin irritation caused by many products used to treat acne. If you need to expose yourself to the sun, protect yourself with total protection cream (SPF 30 or more) moisturizing.

How is the treatment for acne?
Even mild acne can have significant psychological repercussions. Do not hesitate to consult a doctor who can prescribe appropriate treatment. Some medications should be applied to the skin (topical treatments), others have to be taken by mouth (orally). The treatment goal is first a decrease or disappearance of lesions ("attack therapy"). It then aims to prevent the appearance of new lesions. Young girls who suffer from acne, the choice of a pill must be adapted. Indeed, many pills can aggravate acne.