Acne
By:
Jessica Joy
Acne is an inflammatory skin condition that occurs mostly during puberty. But it may occur in adults too. It occurs when your hair follicles become filled with oil and dead skin cells. Acne causes whiteheads and blackheads.
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Acne may appear on any part of the body but it usually occurs on the face and forehead. It may cause a permanent scar on the face.
Types of acne are:
- Whiteheads
This appears when the pores are clogged. Pores can clog due to excess production of oil or dead skin. These are too known as closed comedones.
- Blackheads
These appear black on the skin surface and are known as open comedones because their head remains open. These can be removed by squeezing but can cause a scar on the skin surface.
- Papules
These are small tender, red bumps that occur when sebum or excess skin cells block a pore and mix bacteria (Cutibacterium acnes). Due to the bacteria inflammation occurs. These do not contain pus.
- Pustules
These are small, bulging bumps with a white center and inflamed skin around them. This type of acne is found in clusters on the chest, face, and back. These form when a blocked pore gets infected by the bacteria. These contain yellowish fluid in the center known as pus.
- Nodules
This type of acne consists of red bumps that are deep under the skin’s surface. Nodular acne is painful and causes due to the bacteria C. acnes which causes infection.
- Cysts
These are the most severe type of acne due to the infection deep within the skin. These acnes are large, red, inflamed, painful, and pus-filled.
Causes of acne are:
- Production of excess sebum (oil).
Acne appears on your face, forehead, chest, shoulder, and upper back due to the production of excess sebum from sebaceous glands present in these areas.
- Clogged hair follicles by sebum and dead skin.
- Bacteria.
- Inflammation.
Things that can trigger or even worsen acne:
- Hormonal changes– Hormone-like androgens increases in boys and girls during puberty and cause enlarge sebaceous glands and produce more sebum.
- Certain medication– Drugs like corticosteroids and testosterone.
- Diet – Foods like carbohydrates may worsen the condition.
Here some methods to prevent and treat acne.
- Diet – People taking vitamin A and zinc in their diet have lower risks of acne.
- Tea-tree oil – It helps to treat mild to moderate acne.
- Tea – It contains polyphenols, helps in reducing sebum production, and treats acne.
