If you had acne prone skin as a teenager then you probably remember the pain and difficulty of it all. Acne is a very common problem which affects 80% of people between 11 and 30 years old. Knowing this is no great comfort to you if you suffer from it though! Sometimes having a little knowledge can be useful to help you understand what is happening to you.
Acne tends to emerge in the early teenage years and peaks between the ages of 17 to 19. Whilst most cases have disappeared by the age of 20 for some people the problem can continue till the late thirties. Acne can occur on many parts of the body but occurs predominantly on the face and the back.
An oily fluid called sebum is produced in small glands that are next to the minute hairs on your face and body. Acne occurs when the production of sebum increases to such a level that blockages and inflammation occur leading to pimples. The reason for this increase in sebum is the production of androgen, which is a male sex hormone, though is produced by females too.
There are a number of treatments that can be used at home to help keep acne under control. If acne is so severe that these home treatments do not work the next step is to go to a doctor. It is well known in the medical community how painful and distressing acne can be and will do all they can to help clear up the problem.
Apart from using pharmaceutical preparations there are a number of simple things that can be done at home to minimize acne. Gentle washing and cleansing of the face twice a day can be useful as well as keeping hair away from the face and not picking or fiddling with pimples as this can worsen the acne and lead to scarring.
There are a number of times in an adults life when they are more prone to acne. Pregnant women and women with polycystic ovaries have been shown to have an increase in acne as do women who are premenstrual. Certain medications can also cause acne as a side effect.
There are a number of myths that surround acne, most of which are untrue. Acne is not caused by dirty skin, certain foods or a poor diet. It is not infectious and sunlight does not help to clear it up. There is nothing you can do to prevent having acne prone skin, but you can help to treat it and get help to clear it up.
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