But what is acne? What exactly is the cause of the condition that blights the lives of so many people?

Although the condition is generally thought of as one that affects those going through puberty, it can affect anyone who is between 11 and 30 years of age. According to statistics, it affects about 80 in100 people worldwide, the symptoms of which are whiteheads, blackheads, red or yellow spots and greasy, often scarred skin

The skin contains numerous small sebaceous glands situated just below its surface. To keep the skin smooth and supple, the glands produce an oily substance called sebum which comes up to the surface of the skin through tiny holes (pores).through which hair also grows. It has been found that people with acne are especially sensitive to normal blood levels of the hormone testosterone, which is found naturally in both men and women. This sensitivity triggers the sebaceous glands to produce excess sebum. Dead skin cells lining the openings of the skin pores which house the hair follicles are not properly shed and a build-up of sebum takes place, resulting in the pores becoming completely clogged, whereupon blackheads and whiteheads begin to form. This form of acne is the most common and does not usually progress beyond this stage.

In some people, the build-up of scurf (dead skin) and oil in the hair follicles provides an ideal environment for Propionibacterium acnes. Normally, this bacterium lives on the skin without causing any problems. However, when an ideal environment is created, such as blocked skin pores, it begins to grow. By feeding off the sebum, the bacteria produces certain substances that trigger an autoimmune response within the body. The skin becomes inflamed, resulting in spots. In severe” inflammatory acne”, cysts develop beneath the surface of the skin where they may rupture, spreading infection into nearby skin tissue, ultimately leading to considerable scarring.

Contrary to general belief, blackheads are not caused by dirt getting into the skin pores. They get their color from excess skin pigmentation. Therefore, washing does not help, although the lack of washing will allow the bacteria to multiply still further! I am often asked if acne is contagious, to which my answer is a definite NO - it cannot be transmitted from one person to another!

It is a fair bet that many acne sufferers have a tendency to pick at or squeeze the spots in an attempt to quickly heal the offending blemishes. However, interfering with the spots often leads to further inflammation and scarring - the last thing anyone wants!

Because medical science is beginning to understand more and more about how the mind can affect bodily functions (mind affecting body), it is now fairly clear why chronic stress and anxiety can make acne much worse or bring on the symptoms in some people. It goes without saying, therefore, that psychological treatment in such cases is the remedy of choice to effectively treat the cause, not the application of skin creams and ointments that do nothing more than treat the symptoms.

The hormonal changes that take place during the menstrual cycle may make acne worse or bring on the condition in some women. Also, some contraceptive pills may exacerbate a skin problem. This is often due to the type of progesterone hormone in some formulae. Conversely, some contraceptive pills have been found to considerably improve acne in the short or long term.

Although it may be stating the obvious, every disease and chronic condition has a cause and because I prefer to treat my patients in a holistic (treating the whole body) manner, the symptoms are of secondary importance, so to speak. Nevertheless, there are certain basic rules that should be followed when suffering from acne. In particular, the areas that are prone to spots should be kept clean using a non-perfumed skin cleanser. Avoid aggressive washing with strong soaps as it is essential that the skin has a certain amount of natural oil to maintain condition.

Even though you have suffered from the physical and mental trauma often associated with acne for a longt ime, , there is, indeed, light at the end of the tunnel, for there are new and effective forms of natural treatment and dietary information now available to relieve and cure the condition.

Acne begins with a fault in the follicular lining which causes the it to shed in sheets rather than particles which causes the material to have difficulty in exiting. This leads to the formation of a plug, called a comedo, consisting of keratin squamae and sebum. Comedones can be classed as “open” or “closed”, A comedo is open when the black tip is visible without maxnification, open comedones are commonly referred to as blackheads. A comedo is closed when the black tip is not visible without the aid of maxnification, closed comedones are commonly referred to as whiteheads.

Although acne is common in teenagers comedones have been demonstrated before puberty. This leads us to assume that the activation of sebaceous secretion is not the key event (in triggering the formation of comedones). In the laboratory it has been proven that a number of compounds can induce comedones, such as coal tar and sulphur, but these are not really relevant to the natural formation of acne.

Acne is usually associated with inflammation as the follicle becomes red and enflamed. To make matters worse it has been noted that it is common, in severe cases of acne, for increased formation of comedones around the area of inflammation. Bacteria is also associated with acne and certainly bacteria can act upon sebaceous triglycerides releasing comedogenic fatty acids however studies have shown that prepubertal children also suffer from comedones and yet they do not have follicular microflora or sebum.

There does appear to be some correlation between sebum production and the severity of acne. It has been shown, in various studies, that teenage acne patients suffer from higher levels of bacteria in their follicles than the control subjects of the experiments. This is accounted for by the increased levels of sebum production seen in the teenage sufferers of acne when compared to the controls. However there is an amount of overlap between the two groups and another point worth noting is that the differences are less pronounced in older individuals with the disease.

Looking at the points above it is clear that further investigation is required in the causes of comedones before we can begin to fully understand the causes of acne. There does appear to be a family tendency to suffer from the disease as it is common to see the brothers and sisters of sufferers also suffering from the problem.

Certain factors are known to aggravate the the condition such as scratching (which can increase inflammation), use of opiates and opioids, use of anabolic steroids and abnormal hormonal activity. There are also a number of diet related factors such as the fact that an iodine rich diet can make existing acne worse.

While we do not fully understand the complex causes of the disease by avoiding things which will make it worse will help with recovery and there are a number of treatments available such as hormonal therapy, the use of oral contraceptives and antibiotics. Benzoyl peroxide (BP) is a topical disinfectant often used in skin care/acne creams but it can cause irritation.

Topical and oral erythromycin and topical clindamycin have been in use for a long time but, as the bacteria (P. acnes.) gains resistance it becomes less effective as a treatment. The tetracycline family of antibiotics are also used as they have an anti-bacterial action but also an anti-inflammatory effect.

As the medical establishment continues to grow more concerned about the over use of antibiotics it is important that we develop alternative treatments for acne. One of the most interesting skin care treatments that have been shown to be effective in treating acne is [url=http://www.microdermabrasioninfo4u.com/]microdermabrasion[/url].. However it is important to note that the treatment should never be used on active acne but only on skin clear of pimples.

The use of microdermabrasion has been proven to reduce the amount of open pores. The process involves the use of fine abrasive crystals which are blown onto the skin to remove dead skin cells and, in some cases the very top surface of the skin. Obviously by the clearing of the pores and the removal of dead skin matter there is less chance of the skin developing comedones. Thus, by treating areas that are not, yet, suffering from pimples the likelihood of a new pimple forming is decreased. As inflammation subsides and the pimple is healed that area of skin can then also be treated. By a process of elimination all of the skin can be treated.

Felicity Kennedy has been involved in the promotion and marketing of professional microdermabrasion machines and treatments since the procedure first appeared in the United Kingdom. During this time it was necessary to investigate all aspects of skin care including medical problems such as acne.

Facial Acne is the most disturbing of all acne as it cannot be hidden through clothing or accessories. This type of acne is more commonly observed in women compared to men. The following are the most common types of facial acne:

Blackheads: These are formed when pores become partially blocked allowing excess sebum, which then turns into bacteria and kills the skin cells to slowly drain to the surface. As the name suggest it is black in color and is much difficult to deal with as compared to whiteheads.

Whiteheads: Unlike blackheads they are formed when a pore becomes completely blocked due to excess oil known as sebum. These are white in color and pop up very easily. There are a number of ways to treat whiteheads but poking them can cause scars.

Nodules: they are a number of acne spots, which are larger and painful then normal acne. This acne is very stubborn and is very difficult to treat. They also form large hard bumps under the skin’s surface. Scarring is also a common result of nodule acne, which has a lengthy treatment with the help of a Dermatologist.

Pustules: they are similar to whiteheads but are reddish and are itchier. They form red circle with a white or yellow center.

Papules: they are tender, swollen, red bumps with no head.

Cysts: they appear to be similar to acne nodules but they are a bit different as they are filled with pus and have a diameter of 5mm. These can be very painful especially when they turn into scars.

A teenager is supposed to enjoy a life full of activity and fun. If due to acne the teenager is deprived of these things, it can result in a number of things which include worse people skills, lack of confidence and so on. This eventually leads to a life in anonymity that has no ambition at all. Teenage acne is developed through the production of androgens, which are hormones that are produced during the onset of puberty.

Teenage Acne Treatment
There are a number of acne treatments available that claim to cure this skin condition, but many of these are simply empty promises that waste time and money, giving false hope to people desperate for something to work. The best way to go is to use home made remedies or herbal remedies as they don’t have any side effects.

Cystic acne is characterized of a cyst that looks a lot like a nodule but the difference is that they are filled with puss. They are usually around 5mm across, sometimes more. They can be extremely painful and very often they will scar It’s very important to use an cystic acne treatment to reduce inflammation.

You should not squeeze an acne cyst, because this can cause a much deeper infection and an inflammation that is much more painful and that will last a lot longer than if you had just left it alone. If you suffer from cystic acne you need to make an appointment with a dermatologist who can prescribe a cystic acne treatment that will reduce the swelling and preventing scaring both critical to taking care of cystic acne.

Most cases of acne can be cleared up, and that includes cystic acne. Sometime you can get lucky and clear it up yourself using over the counter medications, will others will have to seek medical intervention. Either way it can be cleared up. If you are going to try to clear it up yourself begin with a quality skin cleaner that is specifically designed for acne skin. Many swear by the M.D. forte facial cleanser, so you may want to check it out. There are also plenty of other good cleanser on the market!!

You should also treat the acne with a bacteria fighting cream or salve. Try something like oxy or clear skin. Of course there are all kinds of choices. If you are not having any luck with over the counter treatments, please don’t worry!! Your dermatologist or doctor has access to a variety of modern treatments. So there is absolutely no reason for you to suffer with acne long term or to be left with scars.

A dermatologist is qualified to recommend a series of treatments to help treat and eliminate your acne. Isotretinoin or Accutan are both commonly prescribed treatments for cystic acne. There are also other options such as the blue light treatment or laser treatments that have shown terrific results.

Isotretinoin is an oral drug that is generally prescribed to be taken twice a day for as long as six months.. The drug reduces the size of your oil glands so that less oil is produced and the growth of bacteria is decreased.

However, there are some serious disadvantages to using isotretinoin. Isotretinoin can cause birth defects in the developing fetus of a pregnant woman, so pregnant women, or women trying to become pregnant should not take it at all. Women in the child bearing years should have a pregnancy test prior to starting this treatment.

Another popular cystic acne treatment for cystic acne combines intralesional and corticosteroid therapy. This is a painless procedure where each cyst is given an injection of dilute cortisone solution. The injections provide fast relief for most painful inflammations.

Surgery, although not commonly used is still another option. It can be very beneficial for the most severe cases of acne, because it can speed up the clearing up of the acne by manually removing blackheads and whiteheads. The surgery needs to be performed under the supervision of a dermatologist, because ruptures to the skin tissue can allow skin-based bacteria to infect the area and lead to greater inflammation.

There is no need for you to suffer any longer. If your home treatment isn’t working you should seek out the help of a professional that can get you on your way to that beautiful acne free skin by using a prescribed cystic acne treatment, which will begin to reduce the inflammation.

Cystic acne is also called nodulocystic acne. It is a condition that presents itself as a severe form of acne. Often, this severity comes in the form of pimples that develop into small cysts on the skin. Unlike other cysts on the body that are changes in the skin’s structure, with this condition the cysts are made up of nodules of inflammation. If you have this condition, you likely have a number of these cysts on your skin in various locations. While it is not an uncommon type of skin condition, it is a rarer form of acne that presents itself.

This condition is caused most often by the build up of sebum in the pores. This build up allows for a very attractive location for bacteria to form and to breed. As they do, they infect the pore and hair follicle leaving the skin with a small but serious infection. Like other types of pimples, cystic acne is not caused by lack of hygiene per say, but it is necessary for good hygiene to be in place to remove some of the bacteria and oils from the skin to reduce the risk of build up.

For those that suffer from this condition, the first course of action is to work with your doctor to diagnosis it. From there, the right treatment option for the condition can be found and used. Ultimately, the condition can be treated and the occurrence of these cysts can be minimized and eventually repaired. If left untreated, they can be very uncomfortable and even painful. Fortunately, cystic acne can be treated and reduced in severity.