Overview
Acne is also known as acne vulgaris. It is a skin condition or skin disease which involves the oil glands of the skin and the base of hair follicles over the skin.
So basically, this internal inflammatory skin condition that causes pimples, blackheads, spots, cystic acne, nodular acne, especially on the face, back, chin, forehead, neck, chest, upper arms, nose, shoulders.
Pimples appear when hair follicles of skin are clogged with dead skin cells and oil from the skin. It primarily affects the area of the skin with a high number of oil glands of the skin.
This is the most common skin condition. It commonly occurs during puberty and females are more prone to this condition than the males.
What Causes Acne?
- Hormonal changes during menstrual cycles.
- Due to the use of hormonal therapy. Example- birth control pills.
- During pregnancy.
- Cosmetic allergy.
- Use of drugs or prolonged medication.
- Unhealthy diet.
- Genetics.
- Sweating or high levels of humidity.
- Bacterial infection.
- Excess activity of androgens hormone.
- Excess oil produced from oil glands of the skin.
Symptoms
- Large red painful lumps under the surface of the skin.
- Hard nodular appearance on the surface of the skin with redness and pain.
- Painful pus-filled lumps or under skin pockets.
- Blackhead which is open pore.
- Whiteheads which are closed clogged pores.
- Cystic pimples with fluid inside.
- Shallow depressions on the skin.
Factors
Some factors may trigger this condition.
- Medications: Some drugs which contain testosterone, corticosteroids, or lithium, may aggravate this.
- Hormones: Puberty hormone androgens, which increase in boys and girls, during their puberty age cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Sometimes lead to the appearance of acne.
Risk Factors:
- Age: Teenagers or during puberty age are more common.
- Family History: Genes also play a great role, if parents had acne the child is more likely to develop it..
- Stress: Cortisol which is the stress hormone also helps in producing acne.
- Hormonal Changes: Some changes such as puberty, pregnancy, menstrual changes lead to this.
- Pressure or friction on skin: It can be caused by tight collars, helmets, telephones, etc.
- Excessive Sweating.
Acne Myths
- Greasy food, nuts, and chocolates.
- Sex.
- Poor hygiene.
- Poor dietary choices
When to See a Doctor?
When the self-care activities or the home remedies don’t clear your acne then see your primary care doctor.
And it is prolonged or painful, the inflammatory appearance of the acne which is very obstinate to clear out.
In some cases during old age or adults, if there is a sudden onset of severe pustular acne may signal underlying diseases that require medical attention.