All You Wanted To Know About Acne

A skin condition, causing skin irritation and pimples is known as acne. It is common among teenagers and young adults. It appears typically on oil producing areas of the body – the face, back and chest. In some cases, it is also seen on the neck and upper arms. If untreated it can become severe and lead to scars. Acne is of two types; Inflammatory and Non-Inflammatory.  The former one is marked by red blemishes, which may or may not contain pus. They are also called zits.

The non-inflammatory one includes black heads and white heads. Acne is commonly caused due to bacteria and hormones. There isn’t any one factor that can be blamed for this. Bacteria, that thrive on our skin is one of the major cause of acne. A rapid increase in the hormones called androgens, also causes acne in both boys and girls.

These hormones cause the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum which leads to acne. Hormonal changes during pregnancy also causes acne. In most cases acne starts at puberty, around the age of 10 to 13 years and lasts for atleast 5 to 10 years. It usually disappears on its own in the early 20′s. However, some people may experience it even later, upto 30 years of age.

Most acnes are easily solved by regular medication. But this should be done only under a doctor’s supervision. Anti-biotics are effective in killing the bacteria and in decreasing the redness and swelling. The anti-biotics may not be in the form of oral medicine (pills), they can also be in the form of gels and creams. Once the acne is cured, the scars need to be treated. They can be treated with glycolic acid peels. Retinol, is a medical cream that can be used for treating scars. It is important to consult a dermatologist since self medication can be dangerous.