Bloodletting Treatment - Acne
Acne
Acne is a skin disease that develops when oil and dead skin cells clog the hair follicles. Acne can cause whiteheads, blackheads, or pimples. Acne is most common in teenagers, but can affect people of all ages.
While effective treatments are available, acne can be difficult to cure. Pimples and bumps are slow to heal and often come and go.
Depending on the severity, acne can cause emotional distress and leave scars on the skin. The sooner you start treatment, the lower your risk of developing these problems.
Symptoms
Acne symptoms vary depending on the severity of the condition:
-Whiteheads (closed clogged pores)
-Blackheads (open clogged pores)
-Small painful red bumps (papules)
-Comedons (pustules), which are pus-filled papules
-Large, hard, painful bumps (nodules) under the skin
-Painful, pus-filled bumps (cystic lesions) under the skin
Acne usually appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back, and shoulders.
When to See a Doctor
If self-care methods don't clear up your acne, see your primary care doctor. Your doctor may prescribe stronger medications. If your acne persists or is severe, you should probably only seek treatment from a specialist who specializes in skin (a dermatologist or pediatric dermatologist).
Many women have acne for decades, often with outbreaks in the week before their period. For women who use birth control pills, this type of acne often clears up without treatment.
If severe acne suddenly develops in older adults, it may indicate an underlying medical condition that requires medical attention.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that some popular over-the-counter acne washes, cleansers, and other skin products can cause severe reactions. Such reactions are fairly rare, so don't confuse them with any redness, irritation, or itching that occurs in the area where you apply a medication or product.
Get emergency medical help if you experience any of the following after using a skin care product:
- Fainting
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
- Tightness in the throat
Causes
There are four main factors that cause acne:
-Excessive oil production
-Oil and dead skin cells clog the hair follicles
-Bacteria
-Inflammation
Acne usually occurs on the face, forehead, chest, upper back, and shoulders because these areas have the most oil (sebaceous) glands in the skin. The hair follicles are connected to the oil glands.
The follicle walls may bulge, creating a whitehead. The clog may also surface and turn black, creating a blackhead. A blackhead may look like dirt stuck in the pore. But in reality, the pore is filled with bacteria and oil, which turns brown when the pore is exposed to air.
Papules are raised, red spots with white centers that form when a hair follicle becomes inflamed or infected by bacteria. The blockage and inflammation deep inside the follicle can cause cystic bumps beneath the skin's surface. Other pores (openings to sweat glands) in the skin do not usually develop acne.
Certain factors may trigger or worsen acne:
- Hormonal changes.
Androgens are hormones that increase in boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and produce more sebum. Hormonal changes during midlife, especially in women, can also lead to breakouts.
- Certain medications.
For example, medications containing corticosteroids, testosterone, or lithium.
- Diet.
Research suggests that eating certain foods -- including foods high in carbohydrates, such as bread, bagels, and potato chips -- may make acne worse. Further research is needed to determine whether people with acne would benefit from following specific dietary restrictions.
- Stress.
Stress does not cause acne, but if you already have acne, stress may make it worse.
Acne Myths
These factors have little effect on acne:
-Chocolate and greasy foods. Eating chocolate or greasy foods has little effect on acne.
-Hygiene. Acne is not caused by unclean skin. In fact, scrubbing the skin too hard or washing with harsh soaps or chemicals can irritate the skin and may make acne worse.
-Cosmetics. Cosmetics do not necessarily make acne worse, especially if you use oil-free cosmetics (non-comedogenic ingredients) that do not clog pores and remove them regularly. Non-oily cosmetics will not affect the effectiveness of acne medications.
Complications
People with darker skin are more likely to develop these complications of acne than people with lighter skin:
-Scarring.
Pockmarked skin (acne scars) and thick scars (keloids) may remain long after acne has healed.
-Skin changes.
After acne has cleared, the affected skin may be darker (hyperpigmentation) or lighter (hypopigmentation) than before the acne appeared.
Risk factors
Risk factors for acne include:
-Age.
People of all ages can develop acne, but it is most common in teenagers.
-Hormonal changes.
Such changes are common during puberty or pregnancy.
-Family history.
Acne is associated with genetic factors. If both of your parents have acne, you may also develop acne.
-Greaseous or oily substances.
You may develop acne when your skin comes into contact with oily or greasy lotions or creams.
-Rubbing or pressure on the skin.
This can be caused by items such as phones, cell phones, helmets, tight collars, and backpacks.
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