Understand and Treat Acne - Science Sheds Light

Acne, in its most ordinary manifestation (on the face, spread unevenly across the cheeks and the T-region) makes the most confident individuals shy about their skin. Though socialization plays a big part in determining how much attention is given to the acne as an aesthetic problem, generally, mild forms of depression should be expected especially in women who give a lot of value to external looks.

Why does acne have to happen? What is acne? Acne is not the result of eating too much spicy food, or having too little ¡°action¡± or being too light or too heavy. Acne is quite simple to understand- it is a skin condition where the small pores and glands inside the pores become clogged and infected. It has nothing to do with how you wash your face either.

This might come as a bit of a shock to some of you, but we have so many bacteria on the surface of our skin (some of these are already considered as symbiotic organic partners of the human body) that when acne does happen, the bacteria responsible for the lesions move into the clogged pores almost immediately.

When Clogs Aren't Hot

When the clogging begins, the sebum or natural skin oil immediately attracts many unwanted denizens living on the surface of the human skin. One of these unwanted denizens are the anaerobic bacteria that feed on sebum and thrive in oxygen-less environments.

When the anaerobic bacteria move into the pores, infecting these pores, the bacteria slowly produce waste products that eventually lead to more inflammation. The bacteria feeds on the sebum, produces waste and reproduces itself, effectively colonizing other parts of the face.

The cycle itself is so efficient that sometimes, multiple generations of the anaerobic bacteria feel right at home on an acne-ridden human face. It has nothing to do with diet; if you have extra sebum production and the conditions are just right, you get acne.

If you had acne since you were young, and you are now approaching your twenties, rest assured that you are reaching the final phases of acne vulgaris. The lesions usually heal at around the ages of 18 or 19. If you have extra sensitive skin, there might be a chance that the inflammation would continue to well beyond your twenties. Some people with unbelievably sensitive skins keep their lesions until their forties, which is already quite an absurd age for acne.

Best Treatment

Your best recourse for any kind of skin condition is to consult with a licensed medical doctor. Doctors who deal with internal medicine or general family medicine can well handle acne cases. In some instances that a doctor feels that extra skill is required to deal with a more severe manifestation of acne, you may be asked to go to a dermatologist.

On the other hand, if your doctor does feel confident enough he or she would probably prescribe either of these two:

a. Azelaic acid

b. Benzoyl peroxide

Both of these compounds are known to combat anaerobic bacteria. Actually benzoyl peroxide is well-used compound in the treatment of acne.