Health Quick Tips – Health Tips For Common Ailments

Archive for May, 2009

Acne, commonly known as pimples, is a skin condition most often viewed as a curse of French fries and burger eating, soda guzzling teenagers, but also affects adults as well. This skin condition usually appears on the face, but can also appear on other parts of the body such as the back, shoulders, neck, and chest.

In spite of what you may have heard, acne breakouts aren’t the product of poor hygiene or poor diet. Neither is it caused by lack of, or too much, sex. Acne is universal, in that it affects both males and females equally, and occurs in every race.

The scientific or medical name for acne is Acne Vulgaris. At the root of the problem is an over-production of sebum, a waxy substance produced by the body to keep the hair and skin soft and lubricated. However, during certain times, the body can produce too much sebum, which can clog skin pores and lead to blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples.

In teenagers, this overload of sebum is caused by the hormone explosion known as puberty. In adults, it can result from heredity, stress and women’s monthly hormone fluctuations.

Acne can be not only a medical problem, but an emotional/psychological problem as well, because it affects appearance and self image. Since teenagers are particularly vulnerable concerning their self-image, acne can cause feelings of depression and reduced self-confidence. It may cause some to withdraw from social interactions and cause feelings of anger and frustration.

Thankfully, there are many modern treatments for acne. The first line of defense is keeping the skin clean and oil free. This can be done by gentle washing with soap and water twice a day, particularly after activities which cause perspiration. There are also a wide variety of medical treatments available for acne, both prescribed and over-the-counter.

Severe acne conditions can be treated by a dermatologist. The doctor can prescribe ointments which are used directly on the skin as well as drugs like antibiotics which combat the bacteria which causes pimples. A dermatologist can also give valuable advice about diet and lifestyle changes which may help in combating acne.