Saturday, February 28, 2009

Acne Causes and Treatments

By Dan da Silva

Many people find it hard to believe that you can suffer with acne at any age and do not have to be a teenager. While it is true that acne will often become apparent during the formative years, many people do in fact find it a temporary condition although as many as nine in every ten people will suffer with at some point in their lives.

Our bodies produce oil called sebum which is quite normal but sometimes we produce too much and this clogs the hair follicles which can be one of the causes of acne but excess oil is not the only cause nor does it mean that someone who has excess oil in their hair follicles will develop acne. It appears that acne is not an age old problem but a recent development and one caused by too much oil in the pore itself which results in the pimple we are all very conscious of.

Although it is possible that clogged pores that cause acne might be due to the hormone changes every teenager faces or even from cosmetic products that have not been removed fully from the skin. Other causes that have been discovered are the reprocessed foods we eat and the high level of sugars that re contained in almost everything we consume.

More persistent cases of acne will probably need stronger medication which can be prescribed by a dermatologist. Having a dermatologist treat the condition is not such a bad idea as he or she will be able to better check on how well the treatment is he prescribed. It is very important to avoid aggravating, or disrupting, any and all acne blemishes otherwise, the sufferer will face a possible bacterial infection from dirt or germs that may reside underneath the fingernails.

This means that fingernails need to be kept clean and not dismissed because they look clean as almost all bacteria and germs are invisible to the naked human eye. To be on the safe side it is always wiser for an acne victim not to touch any of their pimples with their hands just in case.

Unfortunately, acne does seem to have a hereditary link so if you mother and father had acne ten you will also probably suffer as well, bearing in mind that the number of individuals with perfect skin in the world is very low. By far the biggest reason for acne is when a youth child enters into puberty and the change in hormone levels associated with that period.

While opinions vary on the subject, it cannot hurt to contact a dermatologist if you are having a problem with acne or other skin complaint. The information here is not designed to replace the advice given by a doctor, dermatologist or other medical professional. - 16004

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