Derma Health

Acne is an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands of the skin. With the emergence of several inflammatory factors play a role. Before we go into the reasons it is important to know that every square inch of your skin about 15 sebaceous glands contain. These sebaceous glands are located directly under the skin and produce such as the name implies tallow. The sebum by the sebaceous glands removed from the so called follikelkanaal. This is an export corridor to one of the opening of the sebaceous skin. The opening in the skin is also called a pore. Not anywhere on the skin are many sebaceous glands present. The most and the largest sebaceous glands are located high on the back, forehead and chin. In puberty, the skin under the influence of the male hormone androgen many changes. These male hormones are also in women. The main change is that the sebaceous glands in the face, back and chest in this period grow and produce more sebum. Moreover, the composition of sebum thicker. Also, the hyperkeratosis follikelkanaal the process closely. The result may be that the sebum is not so easily removed and is going to accumulate. The openings of the follikelkanaal, the pores, become, within the shortest time hiding.

Tallow is a kind of skin oil and has important functions in relation to the health of the skin namely,

* Prevention of water loss from the skin.
* Protecting against bacteria and fungi.
* To keep the skin smooth.

The blockages are called white, black closed comedones and open comedones result. The white comedones are located more subcutaneous blackheads. The black open comedones are blackheads superficial to the black dots can be recognized. The black tip is also dirt, but is caused by melanin, a pigment substance that the body creates. Black blackheads and pimples are rarely if ever will in principle never ignite. Pimples are really closed comedones that have become inflamed. Both the pimple and skin around it is clearly red (erythema). Responsible for these infections, the bacteria in the sebaceous gland and found that the sebum into irritating free fatty acids. Sometimes inflamed, red bumps with large red spots that hurt. These are called infiltrates and may sometimes arise spontaneously, but usually the infiltrates caused by the ‘empty squeezing’ of a pimple. The pressure on the wall of the sebaceous gland is exercised may rupture, allowing the contents into the surrounding skin gets. This can lead to a significant painful inflammation of the skin.
What is Acne?
Pimples are really closed comedones that have become inflamed. Both the pimple and skin around it is clearly red (erythema). Responsible for these infections, the bacteria in the sebaceous gland and found that the sebum into irritating free fatty acids. Sometimes inflamed, red bumps with large red spots that hurt. These are called infiltrates and may sometimes arise spontaneously, but usually the infiltrates caused by the ‘empty squeezing’ of a pimple. The pressure on the wall of the sebaceous gland is exercised may rupture, allowing the contents into the surrounding skin gets. This can lead to a significant painful inflammation of the skin.

External causes

The previous section revealed that different factors play in causing acne: increased sebum production, clogged and narrow export corridor, the influence of bacteria in the sebaceous glands and the influence of the male hormone androgen. Besides these causes, there are external factors that may play a role in causing or worsening of acne. These causes will be addressed point by point below.

* In 20% of the people, the Sun would cause the formation of acne or exacerbate them. This is especially the case with moist heat such as in the tropics. But most people who suffer from acne have experienced an improvement after being exposed to the Sun This is especially so if the acne is located on the back and chest.
* There are products that can play a role in causing or worsening of acne. Examples include oil or chlorinated products in certain occupations and industries are used. Thus, for example by exposure to dioxin and related substances on a very similar picture cause acne. This form of acne called acne is also called contact.
* The use of cosmetics can aggravate acne and thick layers of powder make-up the pores close. If you use make-up, use little water and preferably on cosmetics. Never sleep with a drawn face. Make-up is best removed with soap and water and not with a cleansing cream. Eye shadow and lipstick can you always need to muster.
* Long hair worn so that it covers up the acne is one possible cause. Do you feel that your forehead eg Acne worsens it by you, let your hair cut shorter. Was it too much shampoo hair regularly and avoid the use of gel, hairspray and the like.
* There are several medicines that can create or aggravate Acne. This is especially the case when acne occurs suddenly, in an unusual place or in old age. These drugs include INH (TB), diphantoïne (for epilepsy), lithium salts (for manic-depressive disorders), excessive use of androgen (eg bodybuilders) and corticosteroids.
* Acne can also create or exacerbate local irritation or friction caused by such shaving and violin.
* Pill. The influence of oral contraceptives on the course of acne is very variable depending on the type (see treatment: hormone therapy).

Acne has nothing to do with:

* The type and amount of food. Because acne often associated with oily skin, is often thought that dietary fat promotes the development of acne. Especially pork, and chocolate chips are regarded as the culprits. It has never demonstrated that nutrition plays a role in the formation of acne. It could well be that your body reacts to certain foods. Occurs after eating chocolate, chips or peanuts a reaction to the skin, then you really eating these products better refrain.
* A poor hygiene. Often this perception is that acne is caused because the skin is so “dirty and greasy appearance. Hygiene has no relation to acne.
* Infectivity. Acne is not infectious and therefore is never one person to another transfer.
* Tallow formation and perspiration have nothing in common. Increased sweating does not affect the severity of acne.
* The role of stress is controversial. Stress could be an existing acne worse.
* Pregnancy. The influence of pregnancy is unpredictable.

Special forms of acne:

Besides the most common form of acne vulgaris, meaning “ordinary” means, there are some forms of acne with a different picture or a different course.

Thus occurs in some women about one weeks before menstruation (likely due to hormonal fluctuations) a worsening of acne. Even acne can worsen during pregnancy.

A severe form of acne mainly in men, acne conglobate. The inflammation expired more violent than acne vulgaris. The shoulders, back and chest are generally worse affected than the face. Typical are the large subcutaneous nodules and abscesses (pus-filled with cavities), which eventually heal leaving a disfiguring scars. This form of acne often remains long after the twentieth year existence.

Another serious form of acne is acne fulminans. This very violent and fortunately rare form of acne begins very suddenly. The abnormalities of the skin are very similar to that of acne conglobate. The difference with acne conglobate thing is that the patient is too ill.

The symptoms may malaise, weight loss, joint and muscle pains are. The cause of acne fulminans is unknown. Treatment should be started urgently, and may include antibiotics, corticosteroids or isotretinoin.

Sometimes acne in unusual places, such as the armpits, groin and buttocks. Blackheads are an important indication that it is acne. The recurrent infections and abscesses, the patient harming many. This form of acne usually occurs after the twentieth year.

In summary: Acne is not everyone looks the same. There are more superficial and subcutaneous blackheads blackheads located. In other cases, inflammation more to the ground and determine red papules, pustules, painful subcutaneous nodules or cysts (cavities filled with sebum) the image. In the development of acne working together several factors: increased sebum production, a hyperkeratosis disorder in the output current, the influence of bacteria in the sebaceous glands and the influence of male hormones, androgens.