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