| The causes of acne are not fully understood, but | | | | the hair follicles, come into play. The end result is |
| dermatologists have certainly evolved in their | | | | that the follicles become clogged with dead skin |
| knowledge and treatment approaches. During the | | | | cells and oil, and the opening of the follicle is |
| process, many things that were believed to be | | | | blocked. This is called a comedone.This |
| associated with acne have either been ruled out, | | | | environment favors the multiplication of the acne |
| or modified with a deeper understanding.Acne can | | | | bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes. This bacteria |
| occur at any time during a person's life. Whilst | | | | lives on the skin and is normally harmless. But the |
| many people suffer acne during teenage years, | | | | oil and dead cells in the clogged pore are like food |
| not having acne then does not mean it may not | | | | to it, and the breakdown products of this |
| develop as an adult. However, genetics does play | | | | bacteria's mealtime is irritating to the skin. If the |
| a role. So if someone in your family has acne, | | | | bacteria multiply to the extent that the follicle wall |
| there is a greater chance of developing it.But acne | | | | breaks open, lesions can develop.The role of |
| is not contagious. During teenage years, for | | | | inflammation in acne is being studied to give new |
| women who are menstruating, and women going | | | | insights into how to approach acne treatment. |
| through menopause, there are hormonal changes | | | | The inflammatory process within the skin can |
| that are associated with acne.Acne sufferers | | | | attract molecules that break down the collagen in |
| have oil producing glands that are more sensitive | | | | the skin. This can lead to permanent damage - |
| to regular levels of the hormone testosterone in | | | | scarring. A research team at the University of |
| their blood. Sometimes too much testosterone is | | | | Michigan is looking at testing treatments that |
| produced. Women have small amounts of | | | | reduce the intensity of the immune system's |
| testosterone also, and for some women, adrenal | | | | response to the effects of the 'acne invasion'. By |
| or ovarian disease is an underlying cause of acne | | | | reducing the level of inflammation, they hope to |
| which causes excess production of these male | | | | prevent acne scarring.References:1. |
| hormones.Testosterone, or the body's heightened | | | | innovations-report.com/html/reports |
| responsiveness to it, causes the oil glands to | | | | medicine_health/report-33149.htmlRebecca |
| produce more oil than they should. Here, other | | | | Prescott presents an overview of acne products |
| factors such as excess shedding of the dead skin | | | | here. Or for some quick acne tips, check out this |
| cells lining the hair follicle, a narrowing of the hair | | | | article. |
| follicles, and irregular clumping of the cells within | | | | |