Acne

Acne

By Lisa Campana

Don't believe the hype: acne is not caused by chocolate but by hormones. It's not nice and it's not pretty - but it is very common. You don't need to suffer in silence - read on for more information about teen acne, adult acne, acne treatments and how to alleviate symptoms.

What Is Acne?

Acne is commonly characterised by blackheads, whiteheads and inflammation of the skin's sebaceous glands. In severe cases acne can lead to formation of the nodules or cysts below the skin's surface that can cause scarring.

It affects around 79-95% of the Western adolescent population and can extend into adulthood, affecting 12% of women and 3% of men. Acne occurs most often on the face but can also occur on the back, chest and shoulders.

Although beauty is more than skin-deep, an acne sufferer may feel self-conscious about their appearance and this can affect self-esteem.

Causes of Acne

Our skin contains sebaceous glands located just below the skin's surface. These glands contain the base of the hair follicle and secrete an oily substance called sebum, which lubricates the hair follicle and keeps skin supple.

Acne occurs when there is a blockage of the sebaceous gland by excess sebum, which mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria living on the surface of the skin. This blockage leads to the formation of those pustules, papules, nodules, cysts, whiteheads and blackheads.

Teenage Acne

The highest incidence of acne occurs in adolescents. Teenage acne is thought to be triggered by hormones, particularly testosterone, which is produced at different levels in both males and females around the time of puberty. These rising hormone levels cause the sebaceous glands to overproduce sebum leading to skin lesions.

Adult Acne

Hormonal changes can also happen in adulthood. Most cases of adult acne occur in women and can be triggered by hormonal changes around periods, pregnancy or in conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Other triggers of acne are prescribed medications, such as corticosteroids (a steroid used to treat asthma) and lithium (a mood stabiliser), exposure to certain types of industrial pollutants (such as machine oils, coal tar derivatives and chlorinated hydrocarbons), cosmetics, pomades, over-washing of the skin, diet and even stress.

Acne Treatment

Conventional acne treatments may require a trip to a dermatologist and include topical or oral antibiotics or bactericides like benzoyl peroxide. Adult acne can also be treated hormonally with certain contraceptive pills.

Other commonly prescribed medicines contain Retinol, a form of Vitamin A, or Azelaic acid, which is applied directly to the skin to reduce cell blockages. However these topical treatments for acne can have unwanted side-effects such as skin irritation, burning, dry or itchy skin, increased sensitivity to sunlight and in some cases mild peeling of the skin's surface.

Other acne treatments include microdermabrasion, phototherapy (the use of a special deep penetrating light therapy), cosmetic laser treatment, dietary and nutritional therapies (including supplements such as probiotics, essential fatty acids and zinc) and detoxification.

If medication's not for you, try a natural remedy. Highly diluted tea tree oil can kill surface bacteria and reduce inflammation when dabbed onto the skin, and rosewater spray acts as a good skin toner.

Video: Watch Dr Pixie McKenna from Embarrassing Bodies explain the causes and treatment of acne