Doctor Sebastian: "Hello everyone! Today we'll be discussing Acne!"
Angry Sebastian: "Acne? How dare you say that word with a grin! It's no matter of discussing, IT'S THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE AND IT MAKES ME MAD RAWRRRRRRRR!!" Angry Sebastian starts to flip tables (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
Doctor Sebastian: "What are you doing in my office! Get out of here angry Sebastian."
Angry Sebastian: "Office?!?! We're in a cardboard box in the middle of the streets"
Doctor Sebastian: "Shush! We're fictional characters in a highly intelligent article"
Angry Sebastian: "Acne? How dare you say that word with a grin! It's no matter of discussing, IT'S THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE AND IT MAKES ME MAD RAWRRRRRRRR!!" Angry Sebastian starts to flip tables (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
Doctor Sebastian: "What are you doing in my office! Get out of here angry Sebastian."
Angry Sebastian: "Office?!?! We're in a cardboard box in the middle of the streets"
Doctor Sebastian: "Shush! We're fictional characters in a highly intelligent article"
Now back to seriousness, we'll actually be discussing Acne today
ºO•❤•.¸✿¸.•❤•.❀•.Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ACNE ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ.•❀.•❤•.¸✿¸.•❤•Oº
Acne vulgaris which is commonly referred to as Acne is a skin condition that results when sebaceous glands' ducts become blocked and inflamed.
Acne all starts when dead skin cells (Keratin), debris, dirt, etc becomes blocked in the pore of the skin and clogs the hair follicle. Oil is now trapped inside and is unable to go onto the skin as it would normally. The oil accumulates and bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes (a bacteria that is commonly on your skin) begin to excessively grow in this new anaerobic blocked region. As a result of the infection, the skin becomes inflamed and give the pore acne's recognized red color. This has resulted in a Comedo, a whitehead, when the plug is closed by the skin itself or a blackhead when the skin is open and exposed, allowing the infected region to oxides and become dark.
Acne is most frequent during years of adolescence (around the age of 10 to 19 years old) when sebaceous glands produced a overwhelming amount of oil triggered by hormones such as androgens. Excessive amounts of oils is pore to allowing more pores in becoming infected. Even after those years, adults can also suffer from acne but not as often. Other causes of acne can be due to the genes of the person making them more pore to having acne as or poor hygiene and diet.
Acne is most frequent during years of adolescence (around the age of 10 to 19 years old) when sebaceous glands produced a overwhelming amount of oil triggered by hormones such as androgens. Excessive amounts of oils is pore to allowing more pores in becoming infected. Even after those years, adults can also suffer from acne but not as often. Other causes of acne can be due to the genes of the person making them more pore to having acne as or poor hygiene and diet.
On the left is a great example of whites, in which the white dots is the acne. On the right, you can see various dark dots which are black heads. Below are more examples of acne
Acne is most common in regions of skin with high amounts of oil glands such as upper back, chest, shoulders as well as the face, neck. Unfortunately, acne isn't restricted to just that and can occur pretty much anywhere you have oil glands such as your arms, legs, scalp.
Overall the main symptoms of acne are whiteheads, blackheads, pimples and oily skin while it can even include some skin scarring. Symptoms of acne can appear as quickly as overnight and take weeks until they disappear. If the skin remains infected with the acne for too long, it may result in scarring. Acne can feel warm, itchy and painful (I know for experience) with the effects lasting until the pore is unplugged.
Overall the main symptoms of acne are whiteheads, blackheads, pimples and oily skin while it can even include some skin scarring. Symptoms of acne can appear as quickly as overnight and take weeks until they disappear. If the skin remains infected with the acne for too long, it may result in scarring. Acne can feel warm, itchy and painful (I know for experience) with the effects lasting until the pore is unplugged.
Acne does not have a harmful impact on the body as would other diseases (such as cancer that could kill) but can greatly affect the patient's self esteem and result in depression, anxiety and stress. In extreme cases, patients can even have suicidal thoughts.
Luckily, there have been many treatments developed over the years aiming to help reduce and control acne. These treatments range from using special soaps and prescription drugs aiming to help control acne's infections such as:
In the end, the best option is for the person with acne to visit their dermatologist in order to obtain the best treatment for them.
- Benzyol peroxide (I remember that! It dried up my skin and made it even more uncomfortable)
- Salicylic acid (I remember those too! They smelled funny :P)
- Azelaic acid
- Taking antibiotics
- Accutane (The scary treatment D: )
- This is one of the last resort treatments that reduces the sizes of oil glands to reduce the production of oil
- Improving diet (Reduced oil and sugar intakes)
- Even though researchers have been unable to verify a connection between acne and diet, I have seen myself how certain products such as fried meals, butter, chocolate will greatly worsen my acne (But it might just be me :D )
- Natural mineral soaps
- Sulfur soaps
- They're great and smell nice
- Dead sea Mud Soap
- Sulfur soaps
- Natural oils such as neem oil and tea tree oil which have antimicrobial properties
- Exercising more to increase sweating and help prevent pores from becoming clogged
In the end, the best option is for the person with acne to visit their dermatologist in order to obtain the best treatment for them.
Hey mom! We have to go spent $50 on refills for acne prescriptions that doesn't work!
Although there are no known cures for acne, it is not contagious at all! On the other hand there are many ways in which a person can help prevent acne such as:
- Maintaining a clean face
- Such as washing every night with a soap and removing debris on your face
- Reduce the amount of makeup used
- Using natural shampoos as some contain chemicals that irritate the skin and result in more acne
- Moisturizing skin
- Avoid touching your face
- Avoiding too much contact with the sun
- Exercising
- Maintaining a healthy diet rich in vitamins and nutrients
- Avoiding foods such as chocolates, unhealthy sugars, saturated fats
- Check your pillow case every night
- Reduce the amount of oil, debris and bacteria that your face comes in contact with
- Reducing your stress
- Don't let acne stress you out, just be yourself! *Cheesy music starts to play in the background*
Lol I feel like one of those beauty tips bloggers now, that must mean I'm fabulous now :D
I do not own any of the images displayed here as most were obtained from Google images and the information shown is not mine and may not be correct as they were obtain with the assistance of online sources and personal experience and knowledge. *Information was obtain from Anatomy & Physiology textbook and other online sources and used in a nonprofit way. I, in no way claim the information to be mine but simply have restated/rephrased it for the purpose of this private school assignment.*
=^.^=
=^.^=