Understanding Body Acne And Treatment Options
Saturday, 17. October 2009
Author: Rebecca Prescott
Source: articledashboard.com
Acne is a common skin disease characterized by a variety of lesions: comedones (whiteheads and blackheads), papules (red, raised areas) and pustules (raised skin eruptions filled with pus). Acne is most often in the forehead, nose and cheeks, but body acne is also possible, and legs, back and shoulders may be affected. Acne usually begins during adolescence and subsides considerably during the 20s or 30s, but occasionally, someone can go through adolescence unscathed and the development of acne in their 30s or 40s. The exact cause of acne vulgaris (acne of the word comes from the Greek word for, and most common means vulgaris) is not known, but an increase in hormonal activity, eg during puberty or menstruation, common bacteria skin, stress, and sebaceous glands (small glands under the skin) produced too much sebum (a thick secretion of fat and dead skin) can all contribute. It is unlikely that a single cause for acne, but many factors, and there are many explanations for what happens. But although the exact cause of acne is not known, the disease process has been clearly delineated. The sebaceous glands are attached to hair follicles that start below the surface of the skin, and sebum that normally goes to the skin surface through hair follicles. However, acne is an overproduction of sebum and skin cells that line the follicle and usually move to the surface with sebum proliferate. The combination of excess sebum and dead skin cells blocking the hair follicle, sebum accumulates, and a whitehead or a blackhead occurs (Many people think they are black spots of dirt in the pores, which is not truth. The black color comes from a chemical change in the sebum / dead skin composite and the presence of pigment cells). If the process continues, bacteria that are normally present in the skin (Propionibaterium acnes) find this environment very conducive for growth. The result? Infection, inflammation and pus-filled lesions that most people associate with acne. Acne can not be cured but can be managed, and this can be challenging, especially if you have generalized body acne lesions. Traditionally, people have been instructed to avoid certain foods like French fries, potato chips, chocolate and others, but no definite evidence that these foods cause acne or make a pre-existing condition worse. The most basic and simplest steps in the treatment of acne is to keep the skin clean and free of oil (a real challenge for people with body acne). That sounds simple, but there are literally hundreds of acne products on the market – most of those who promise more than they offer – so it is difficult to know which one to choose The quick answer is no "miracle treatments" and all you need you can find at your local pharmacy. Use a mild cleanser and water-based skin that will not clog pores and use an exfoliant. Exfoliation removes the surface layer of dead skin cells and helps keep the pores open and drain. The second step in the treatment of body acne topical treatments. There are a variety of these and may have to experiment – sometimes with help from your doctor – to find one that works. Benzoyl peroxide is an antibacterial that can be purchased without a prescription, and topical antibiotics such as erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, can be used. These are especially useful for people with body acne and that can be applied directly to areas of injury. If topical treatments are not effective, your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics (eg erythromycin, tetracycline) or for women, oral contraceptives, oral medications also especially useful for people with body acne as a) topical treatments can be awkward or inconvenient to apply in difficult locations, and b) oral medication is delivered directly to affected areas below the skin surface. Oral retinoids and isotretinoin reduce secretions of the sebaceous glands and also may be effective, light therapy has been used with some success, again, these treatments would be very useful for people with body acne. Finally, one of the most important ways to treat acne is to use patience. It can take months for some of these therapies to make a difference and if you have a serious case of body acne, it can be hard to wait.