Acne is that common yet unsightly skin condition that’s found mostly among those in their adolescent years. In and of itself, acne isn’t a harmful disorder. Though it can potentially scar the skin, especially when not treated properly or abused through scratching and picking, it doesn’t have any lasting health effects that are associated with it. Since it is a physical blemish though, and adding to that the fact that it is most prominent, though not limited to, people who are in their vulnerable adolescent years, acne has been linked to mild and severe forms of depression.
Technically speaking, acne is just one part of a larger issue affecting the skin. More specifically, acne is the disturbance’s visible part. The overall condition that gets treated by pimple creams and other medications is actually deeper down. The condition is actually inflammatory, bacterial and hormonal disturbances. Most of the action actually takes place at the level occupied by what is known as the oil pore. The oil, in this case, is within the sebaceous glands. A sticky buildup is formed inside the walls of hair follicles, and the buildup eventually blocks the pores. This process causes the appearance of whiteheads and blackheads.
What’s interesting about this condition is that it often appears during a specific time in a person’s life. While a large minority of individuals suffers from milder forms of acne throughout much of their adulthood, very few have to experience severe acne for any lengthy period of time. It’s really just teenagers who see the worst of it. This has sparked questions as to why that is. In fact, much research has gone into discovering the causes of acne, but there are still more questions than answers.
One cause of acne might be related to genetics. What about someone’s genetics causes the acne, though, isn’t actually well understood. In a way, it can be said that the way someone’s body produces and responds to hormones is the genetically inherited trait, and the actual cause of acne is left as a mystery.
It has been established that acne springs directly from the increase in male sex hormones-which both genders develop. As this is most common throughout puberty, the condition is mostly seen during that time. Stress, genetics and some forms of food have been linked to acne in various ways. For the most part, these things are actually being linked to the production of hormones, and not specifically to acne.
The scarring that often results from acne is caused by a lack of collagen production. This happens as the inflammation damages collagen making cells, an occurrence that happens only in certain situations. Once this happens; there is less collagen being produced, which leads to thinner skin. The result is what appears as scars.
Bear in mind that while all of this explains how acne is caused, none of it fully explains its origins. More research is being done every day though, and some scientists are hopeful that acne will be fully understood in the coming years.
Acne affects so many people these days, not just the stereotypical teenager. The good news is that there are many ways to treat and manage the problem and get acne relief, from home remedies for acne to prescription medications.
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