What Is Acne
Acne is commonly described as a localised skin condition that affects the face,
neck, back and chest areas dominantly. There are a number of different forms
of acne including the following:
Acne vulgaris - This is the most common type of acne which affects up
to 85% of all teenagers and around 20% of adults. This condition can range from
mild to severe and in very severe cases permanent scarring can occur. Acne vulgaris
is caused by the overproduction of an oily substance known as sebum, which is
secreted by the sebaceous glands in the skin. Normally, sebum is released on
to the surface of the skin through the hair follicles however when sebum is
produced in excess the hair follicles become blocked and the sebum becomes infected
with bacteria beneath the skin's surface. This then causes the inflammation
commonly associated with the condition.
Occupational acne - This is a more unusual form of acne and is caused
by prolonged exposure to certain types of industrial chemicals. For example,
oil acne occurs in people that are frequently exposed to petroleum and its various
derivatives e.g. mechanics, whereas coal-tar acne affects people who work in
the road surfacing industry, the roofing industry and of course the coal-tar
plants. Chloracne is another form of occupational acne suffered by laboratory
workers, waste handlers, maintenance workers and those working in the chemical
manufacturing industry.
Drug induced acne - Occasionally some prescribed drugs can cause a form
of acne, in particular a family of drugs known as the corticosteroids. Why this
occurs is not yet known.
The symptoms associated with the different forms of acne are all very similar
and include tiny blackheads, small firm white-heads, red pimples that often
have yellow pus-filled tips, painful large lumps, and tender lumps beneath the
surface of the skin that don't have obvious heads i.e. cysts. The severity of
these lesions will differ from person to person and while some cases may clear
with a change in hygiene measures, others will require some form of medical
treatment.
Washing the affected skin twice daily with warm water and a medicated cleanser
will often help to unblock the follicles and reduce any bacterial infection
that may be present. It is important not to scrub the skin vigorously though
as this can cause the lesions to worsen. It is also important not to pick at
pimples or squeeze white-heads as again this can worsen the condition and cause
scarring to occur. If acne is occupational then it is imperative that work clothes
are kept clean so that exposure to the harmful chemicals is minimized as much
as possible.
Acne is a serious condition and it can often be psychologically distressing,
especially during adolescence. Luckily by starting treatment at an early age
the condition can often be controlled so that permanent scarring is reduced
or avoided altogether. Acne is nothing to be embarrassed about and with the
help of over-the-counter cleansers and creams outbreaks can, in most cases,
be controlled while further episodes can be prevented.
Information On Acne
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