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Acne Skin Care: Problems and Solutions

PROBLEM:

Acne has always been a skin problem for teens and adults. This skin condition is mostly common during adolescence or puberty, but some individuals will continue to have acne even after their twenties. Acne tends to diminish or disappear over time, however, there is no way to predict how long it will take for it to completely disappear.

Acne generally originates weeks before it is visible. It starts in your sebaceous hair follicles, (or pores). These sebaceous glands produce the oil (sebum) that keeps your skin moist and flexible. As your skin is replaced with new layers, the old cells die and mix with your skin's natural oils. This mixture is eventually shed and sloughed off leaving a clean slate for new skin.

The reality is that this process is not the same for everyone. For some, the mixture of dead cells can bunch together and plug the pore, trapping oil and bacteria beneath the plug. Your body fights this plugged bacterial soup with white blood cells as your skin will have started to swell and discolor. Voila! A zit.

The reality is that it isn't caused, per se, by chocolate or foods. Of course, fatty foods or sweets may be connected with psychological and emotional reactions during times of stress, which could affect or have been affected by hormones, and thus could be related to acne (because hormonal levels are factors with acne). But the following main categories are main factors in acne breakouts:

As mentioned above, hormones play a factor. For the majority of acne sufferers, the trouble begins at puberty, when the body begins to produce hormones called androgens. These hormones cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge, which is a natural part of the body's development. In acne sufferers, however, the sebaceous glands are over stimulated by androgens and this can continue into adulthood. Androgens are also responsible for acne flare-ups associated with the menstrual cycle and, on occasion, pregnancy.
Extra sebum. When the sebaceous gland is stimulated by androgens, it produces extra sebum. In its journey up the follicle toward the surface, the sebum mixes with common skin bacteria and dead skin cells that have been shed from the lining of the follicle. While this process is normal, the presence of extra sebum in the follicle increases the chances of clogging - and can cause acne.
Follicle fallout. Normally, dead cells within the follicle shed gradually and are expelled onto the skin's surface. But in patients with overactive sebaceous glands - and in nearly everyone during puberty - these cells are shed more rapidly. Mixed with a surplus of sebum, the dead skin cells form a plug in the follicle, preventing the skin from finishing its natural process of renewal.
Bacteria. The bacterium Propionibacterium acnes, (P. acnes for short) is a regular resident of all skin types and is a part of the skin's natural sebum maintenance system. Once a follicle is plugged, this acnes bacteria quickly increases and causes redness and inflammation to the surrounding skin.
Inflammation. When your body encounters unwanted bacteria, it sends an army of white blood cells to attack the intruders. This process is called chemotaxis; or, simply put, the inflammatory response. This is what causes pimples to become red, swollen and painful. The inflammatory response is different for everyone, but studies have shown that it is especially strong in adult women.

SOLUTION

The ideal solution is to work towards preventing your skin from getting acne to begin with (although there are always factors that may be out of your control). This includes drinking lots of water so that your body and skin can respirate easily, trying to rest so that your skin can rejuvenate and your stress can lower your hormonal fluctuations, etc. Once you have the visible signs of acne, then it will be a matter of unplugging and disinfecting the area as soon as possible so the healing can begin. Products can be helpful and . Once you have found an acne treatment that helps you accomplish this, it's important to stick with it. Even after pimples disappear, you may need to continue treatment to keep new blemishes at bay. It's also crucial to begin treatment as soon as the first signs appear; the sooner you address your acne, the less likely you are to experience permanent damage to your skin. Of course, in order to stop acne, we must first find out how it starts. Of course, here at LuxurySkinShop we don't sell water or rest, but some products do work. Benzoyl Peroxide (P. Acne killer) and Salicylic acid (helps to slow the shedding of the skin in the pores), are examples of ingredients that have been quite effective for clearing acne, however there are always chances that you may have an allergic reaction so you should consult your physician if you are unsure. Choosing the right acne products for your skin type (oily, dry, combination, etc.) is as important as the percentage of the various active ingredients. Ideally, products that are "oil-free" and "non-comedogenic" (non-acne aggravating) are beneficial for facial cleansers. Harsh scrubs or irritants can actually create riper conditions for acne, so trying to keep things "mild", "non-irritating", and "non-overdrying" well help keep you on the right track towards a beautifully smooth solution.

Warren C. Stout, M.D.

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