Acne – Statistics and Myths
Reports show that over 90 percent of all adolescents and almost 25 percent of all adults are acne sufferers. And although acne affects about 50 percent of all adult women, acne does affect males and females worldwide, regardless of nationality.
This report includes information based upon research about acne. It strives to help clear up myths from facts and present an overview of the issues surrounding acne along with possible solutions available to help with the prevention and treatment of acne, all based upon the most recent studies, reports, articles and findings available, so that you can learn more acne health care.
For example, does chocolate really cause pimples? And how about oily foods? Do French fries bring on the acne? The latest reports show that although scientific evidence is not 100% accurate in this area, your diet does not directly cause acne. And by diet, this means not only chocolate and French fries, but also any other dietary combinations with sugar and oil or other ingredients.
The real cause of acne can actually be a blend of several factors that we?ll discuss here. Note that the contents here are not presented from a medical practitioner, and that any and all health care planning should be made under the guidance of your own medical and health practitioners. The content within only presents an overview of acne research for educational purposes and does not replace medical advice from a professional physician.
The Science of Acne in Layman?s Terms:
In a nutshell, a few simple steps occur that cause skin blemishes. First, acne occurs when for some unknown reason or combination of reasons, hair follicles, also known as pores, become blocked. Although the exact combination of reasons that pores become clogged may not be fully known, many contributing elements for teenagers and adults alike can include; genetics (whether or not there is a history of acne problems and if so, to what extent), hormones, dietary and vitamin make up (or lack of /deficiency) and stress related factors. Other denominators could include factors like how your body normally rids itself of its dead skin cells and influences that may be working against this regularity (for example climate and other environmental forces or overall body health at the time) and your hormones and their effect on your own body?s sebum production (especially for females).
Secondly, the normal dead skin cells that combine with your body?s natural sebum oil as it drains through the skin?s surface become clogged in these blocked pores. This substance becomes somewhat sticky, further clogging the passageway.
Thirdly, bacteria begins to grow around these clogged areas. As a normal reaction your, your body?s white blood cells attack the bacteria, fighting it and pushing it out of the body.
And fourthly, the resulting growths during this 14-day to 21-day battle are called microcomedones. Microcomedones turn into comedones, commonly referred to as blemishes, pimples or acne.
There are basically four types of acne; whiteheads, blackheads, pimples and nodules. Whiteheads are when the sebum (oil) and resulting bacteria are trapped below the skin?s surface and you can actually see a white head appear above (or near popping out of) the skin. Blackheads are when the sebum and resulting bacteria are only partially trapped, slowly draining out the surface and turning black because of your skin?s melanin or pigmentation. In the absence of either white or blackhead are generally (but not always) smaller pimples. And the often deeper, boil-like lesions are referred to as nodules.
All forms of acne can be mild, moderate or severe. Typically, mild acne is visible in the form of whiteheads and blackheads, sometimes pimples. With moderate acne, more pimples and pustules are present on the face, some may appear on the back or chest. And with severe acne, many nodules develop, often large and sore, over parts of the face, back, chest and other body areas. This type of acne can lead to scarring. Actually, lesser cases of acne have been followed by scarring. So for those with possible nodular acne, seeking advice from a healthcare provider as soon as possible is recommended.
A gender issue to note is that males more often have the severe form of acne rather than females, due to their hormones. And the areas where they tend to break out most frequently are unfortunately more difficult to treat, the chest and back.
Acne Truth and Myths:
Let’s take a look at some other popular beliefs about acne to dispel any other rumors; for example, stress. Is it true that increased stress spreads acne? Not exactly. What is true is that ultimately stress can have a very minimal or minor influence all by itself. It cannot actually cause acne, but it can influence reoccurrences of acne as stress increases the body?s creation of a substance called cortisol that in turn causes your sebaceous glands to produce increased amounts of sebum oil that can be blocked in pores. Note, however, that some medications people take when trying to deal with or treat stress can have a large influence on acne as the result of medication side effects.
Acne is contagious – true or false? False! No one can ?catch? acne – it is non-communicable.
You?ll outgrow acne, so just leave it along – true or false? This is also false. Acne strikes all ages and is treatable, but shouldn?t be left alone to possibly worsen.
Being out in the sun helps acne, right? Actually, in the long run, no. The sun may appear to help clear up your blemishes and redden your skin, thus lessening the overall reddish effect of the targeted acne area when it was outstanding. However, rays from the sun can cause skin damage and actually irritate skin more, worsening any existing acne problems in the process and clogging more pores as skin cells dry up and slough off quicker than normal. So use caution (and sunscreen) here!
Sweating helps clean out your hair follicle areas, myth or reality? Yet another myth. In reality, strenuous activity can temporarily increase your body?s oil production that can actually worsen acne problem areas, causing recurrence or intensification.
Acne problems are directly proportionate to sexual activity, or lack thereof – true or false? False – another myth. Just because teenagers are going through hormonal changes, does not mean that this has anything to do with acne. Both are separate issues. Same with adult acne and sex – they are two entirely different issues.
People with acne are dirty and don?t wash enough. False! This is another myth. Acne is the result of a build up of oil, dead skin cells and bacteria in a closed pore. Period. Dirt is not even a factor in the equation.
Acne is only on external issue or skin deep; i.e. people shouldn?t make such a big thing out of it – myth or reality? Well, you guessed it – this is actually another myth. In reality, the acne basically is only on your skin (and underneath the surface a little bit). However, the effects run much more deeper than that in many instances. More than 50 percent of those suffering acne problems reported negative comments and other feedback from members of society, regardless of whether or not there was any scarring left for others to see afterwards. And resulting internal depression and low self-esteem can be harmful emotionally not only short-term but over a person?s lifetime. So acne can indeed be a very big issue requiring healthcare treatment and support.
Acne can be cured – myth or reality? Myth. Although there is no cure at this time, there are many treatments available that do a great job. As the saying goes, ?Prevention is the best medicine;? however, there is no need to suffer in silence with all the options available on the market today for all price ranges. So while it possibly can’t be cured, it can be kept under control either by topical means – creams and the like, applied to the skin, and by internal means – supplements, and other more sinister treatments with nasty side effects.
Certain cosmetics or spot treatments will help acne, myth or reality? Myth again. By the time a blemish appears, it has been in the works for a good couple of weeks. They may help to reduce the healing period slightly, but not by much.
True or false: people with acne should not use moisturizers or other make-up products on their faces? False again. Today there are many noncomedogenic cosmetics out there specially formulated to NOT clog pores.
