Acne is the disease associated with skin that involves oil glands that are present within the base of hair follicles. Acne is caused due to mutation in genetics, the menstrual cycle, anxiety and stress, hot and humid climates, using oil-based makeup, and squeezing pimples. It affects 3 in every 4 people aged 11 to 30 years.it is not dangerous if taken proper treatment, otherwise it creates scars, emotional distress, and the spread of acne in the whole area.
CAUSES:
1 - INFLAMMATION:
Inflamed acne consists of swelling, redness, and pores that are deeply clogged with bacteria, oil, and ■■■■ skin cells. Sometimes, bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) can cause inflamed acne, too. Non-inflammatory acne, also called comedonal acne, is closer to the surface of the skin and doesn’t have a bacterial basis.
Types of acne caused by inflammation:
The treatment of acne involves the correct identification of inflammatory acne. Following are the main types of inflammatory acne
• Inflamed comedones.:
These recognized by swollen blackheads or whiteheads that appear on the skin surface
• Papules.
They are small(usually less than 5mm) and are red in color and are not filled with pus inside, if they are filled with pus then they convert to pustules. They appear on your skin’s surface. They appear on the skin surface due to clogged pores.
• Pustules.
Pustules are like papules red in color and with pus inside just like papules but are large in size. Pustules are also referred to as pimples
• Nodules.
They emerged as small, pus-filled bumps that are lying lie below the skin’s surface.
• Cysts.
Cysts are the most severe type of inflamed acne. Like nodules, they sit below the surface of your skin. They are filled with pus and are usually large and painful when touched.
2 - HORMONAL FACTORS:
This acne occurs when there is an increase in androgen levels in your hormones. When adolescence level increase in the body, then androgen also increases causing acne. In women, androgen gets converted to estrogen. When the androgen level increases then the oil glands inside the skin surface also increase. the increase in gland causes more production of sebum. Due to the overproduction of sebum, the cell wall present in cells broke, causing bacteria to grow. Progesterone is the cause of hormones imbalance. These hormones are present in the female body that helps in conception and pregnancy. Androgens are called male sex hormones and are present in the female body as well, but in high amount than androgen. Hormones in male stabilize, mostly women are victims of acne caused by hormones.
Acne caused by hormonal imbalance is called hormonal acne. This acne has mostly occurred during puberty
Causes of hormonal acne:
• ■■■■■■■■■■■■:
Women usually experience acne before ■■■■■■■■■■■■. Estrogen and pestrogen levels decrease but Testosterone level remains constant that causes sebum production causing the breakout of skin.
• Menopause:
An increase in androgens and a decrease in estrogens also causes the cell wall of the skin to breakout-causing acne.
• PCOS:
In this, androgens excess in the body reduces the estrogen level and progesterone. This contributes to oily skin and results in hormonal acne symptoms.
• Puberty:
In this stage, the androgen level increase in both men and women causing the overproduction of sebum increasing the acne.
3- DIET:
The foods having an excess amount of sugar increases the level of hormone that is called insulin. The increase in insulin level in blood causes cause an increase in oil production by glands, producing acne.
Foods that causes acne:
Milk:
Skim milk is most likely to produce acne. According to recent research, it is the hormones in cows when they are pregnant and are more likely to produce acne. People that have a high level of this cow hormone are more prone to acne problems.
Sugar and carbs:
Sugar, white bread, white rice, soda, and cake cause acne, because they are high in the glycemic index that is a measure of how foods affect blood sugar.
Chocolate:
Studies found that people eating chocolate having 10 times more coca are less prone to acne. Instead, people who eat chocolates with more sugars are at risk. Dark chocolates reduce the risk of acne.
Fast food:
Teenagers consuming fast food on a daily basis are more likely to have acne, because of high quantity of oil used in preparing the ingredients.
Whey protein powder:
This protein helps in increasing the skin cells and increases the insulin level in the blood thus causing acne.
TREATMENT:
At -home care:
The following tips can help in preventing pimples :
• cleaning skin every day using soap to reduce oil and dust.
• Washing hair every day with a shampoo and do not let the hair fall on your face.
• Using ‘non-comedogenic; makeup or waterproof makeup
• By not touching and pinching the pimples and help in preventing the spread of bacteria.
• Avoid using hats and headbands
• Don’t touch your face.
■■■■ antibiotics:
■■■■ antibiotics are to be taken up to 6 months for patients having acne. The dosage of these antibiotics depends upon the levels of severity. These aim to reduce the production of P. Acnes. The dosage increase when you have severe acne and decrease as the acne clears. P. acnes can become resistant to the antibiotic in time, and another antibiotic is needed. Acne is more likely to become resistant to topical rather than ■■■■ antibiotics. Antibiotics can combat the growth of bacteria and reduce inflammation. Erythromycin and tetracycline are commonly prescribed for acne.
Salicylic acid:
This acid help in eradicating ■■■■ skin cells that are present inside your pores. It breaks down acne lesions and also stop them from coming back. It is recommended by doctors that moisturizer must be used before applying creams containing this acid
Sulfur:
This is the most important ingredient in creams that treat acne, it is best suitable for light or less sever and non-inflamed acne. Sulfur-containing creams are more likely used to stop the spread of acne.
Hormonal treatments.:
Some cases of inflamed acne are caused by hormonal imbalances. In these cases, your dermatologist may prescribe hormone-reducing medications. In addition, birth control pills work for some women who experience more inflamed acne before and during their menstrual cycles. Spironolactone, an anti-androgen medication, may also help with nodules and cystic acne caused by unusually high androgen levels.
RISK FACTORS:
Age:
Teenagers are more likely to get acne problems
Family history:
If both your biological parents have acne, then there is more chance for you to get acne
Greasy or oily substances:
You can be more prone to acne if you consume a large amount of oily foods. You may develop acne where your skin comes into contact with oil or oily lotions and creams
Pressure on skin:
Putting a mobile phone on your skin while on-call can increase the risk of you having acne. Recent studies found that telephones, cellphones, helmets, tight collars, and backpacks can cause acne on your skin surface.
CONCLUSION
In the last, we should know what acne is and how it can be treated. But having acne doesn’t mean that there is no treatment for this disease, there are various treatments that help you in treating the acne in a better way, without causing any harm to the skin. A simple tip to get yourself from your acne is to take extra care of your skin, when applying makeup and being careful of what you eat because an unhealthy diet is also one of the factors for you to have acne.