What is acne and what are the causes of acne? Common acne is called acne vulgaris in medical parlance. Acne is very common in teenagers but a few adults in the age groups of 30-40, also get acne now and then. A very common is typified by whiteheads, papules, blackheads, pustule or pimples that come on the face, shoulders, back, chest and so also the neck.
The thousands of oil glands beneath the surface of the skin produce sebum that keeps the skin moisturized and efficient in acting as the protective layer of the body. The nose, mid -cheeks and the forehead have the maximum concentration of oil glands. The back and mid-chest is where the body's largest glands are located. Acne vulgaris mostly occurs on the face, chest and back
What is acne and what are the causes of acne vulgaris? It is triggered by the blocking of the pores. Acne vulgaris is commonly also called acne lesions. Lesions are physical modifications on the body tissue that comes about due to a disease or condition.
Acne could be defined most fundamentally as an illness of the hair follice or what is called pores. This has been labeled as the most frequent skin disorder that afflicts many, in some countries. Acne vulgaris, the name the medical fraternity uses to describe acne, is categorized in the chronic inflammatory illnesses section of the skin diseases.
Acne attacks mainly the neck, face, back, chest besides the upper arm of the patient. Acne is almost never found on any other part of the body. The acne can grow to be just a mild attack or even a severe eruption on the skin.
This occurrence of acne is more prevalent in the teenagers or even youngsters in their adolescence. A high rate of three of four teens goes through the experience of suffering from acne. Acne does not spare either of the sexes but males in their teens tend to suffer longer and more painful attacks than the females do.
Acne is not just an illness that afflicts only teenagers. Many adults suffer from acne lasing out on the skin. In fact, acne can even be found on toddlers, children and not leaving out even babies.
Causes of Acne
Just at the onset of puberty, the sebaceous glands were largely inactive. At puberty, androgens (the male hormones) arouse the sebaceous glands and produce sebum, the body oil. Sebum is believed to ascend and run to the surface of the skin. Acne is caused by the production of excess sebum in the sebaceous glands. This excess clogs the skin pores which then attract dirt, bacteria, etc. and this triggers the formation of acne. Teenage Acne is invariably caused because of the increase in hormones at puberty which rouses the sebaceous glands to generate extra oil.
It is difficult to point to the exact reason why acne is formed on the skin. Besides too much of sebum produced and age (teenagers are more prone to acne) the following aspects also aggravate the formation of acne:
-Cosmetics, especially those with an oil base, can block more skin pores.
-Emotional stress is known to cause acne.
-Avoidable habits like pierce pimples, over cleaning and severe soaps can worsen acne.
-Various disease and hormonal changes can cause acne to flare up, for instance during pregnancies, or before the menstrual cycle for ladies.
-Environmental factors like pollution, varied temperatures and the like also can worsen acne.
-Medications in the form of antibiotics, steroids or oral contraceptives are known to help the cause of acne.
Diet, however, is not medically reasoned to be a trigger for acne.
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By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Daren_Joel]Daren Joel
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