Only in very rare cases can acne represent a serious general health risk. But, its effects can still be severe. The unsightly blemishes, the appearance of having unhealthy skin will almost inevitably lead to mild depression or worse.
One important method for keeping that outlook under control is to make reasonable efforts to combat the condition.
Not [...]
When it comes to acne issues, women sometimes have a larger burden to bear. Lament it as we might, they’re often judged more on looks than men. Their hormonal systems make them more prone to developing acne at certain times. Treatment options can be more expensive for them and costs harder to meet.
During the teen [...]
The short answer to the question ‘Who gets acne?’ is: nearly everyone sooner or later. But the breakdown of who and when is interesting and helpful.
Acne is a condition in which a skin pore becomes clogged as a result of excess dead skin cells and sebum, a natural skin oil, being unable to exit the [...]
While there are always new questions to answer, many of the factors that tend to produce acne have been well researched.
Hormones and Sebum
It’s no accident that acne tends to be associated with teens. It strikes over 85% of us during those years. It’s at that stage of life when hormone levels rise sharply. Androgen levels [...]
Acne does affect proportionally more teenagers than those in other age groups. But the fact is it can affect anyone, of any race, at any age. Combating it requires much the same treatment for anyone (other than infants).
Knowledge is the first weapon. In order to know how best to treat acne, it’s essential to know [...]
There are dozens of prescription medications to treat moderate to severe acne. Some are topical (applied to the skin surface), others are taken as pills or injections. All require at least one visit to a professional dermatologist or physician. Fortunately, the majority fall into a few simple classes with pros and cons that are relatively [...]
In very mild forms of acne, little diagnosis is required. Most people who reach their teens will readily recognize the small blackheads or white pimples surrounded by a reddened area that constitute mild acne.
But more severe forms, where nodules or cysts form, where papule or pustules have spread around the face, shoulders and chest often [...]
The unsightly appearance of acne lesions or pimples isn’t the only potential problem with the disease, unfortunately. In some cases, it’s possible for acne to leave permanent scars.
Some conditions may appear to be scars that are not. Macules and other bumps can occur even after acne is treated. Redness may persist for up to a [...]
There are several common beliefs about the causes and course of acne that simply don’t square with scientific studies. Fortunately, it isn’t necessary to understand them in depth to separate fact from fancy. Common experience can help persuade, too.
Diet
There’s no direct link between eating chocolate or greasy cheeseburgers and developing acne. Soft drinks do not [...]
Good skin care practices play only a minor role in whether a person develops acne. But they are essential to treating it, and to good skin health in general.
Some believe, mistakenly, that a thorough scrubbing will help prevent acne. Actually, washing has little effect on whether acne develops or not. The effects occur mostly afterward, [...]
Sometimes acne is nothing more than a simple pimple, a bit of trapped pus consisting of sebum, dead skin cells and white blood cells. But it can be more severe. Knowing which type you have is key to a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
Professionals recommending a course of treatment will rank acne by Grade.
Grade I [...]
Acne is a common skin disease that results when pores get blocked and bacteria form inside them. It comes in a variety of familiar forms and affects nearly everyone at some stage, particularly in their teen years. The inflamed, red bumps that sometimes form can be painful, and even painless white pimples are unsightly.
In the [...]