What is it?
Acne is also known as pimple or zits and is the most common skin disorder found on everyone one or the other time in life. However, teenagers are the ones who suffer from it most often. Acne may not harm the core body internally but certainly can cause very big deal of embarrassment and anxiety. If it is turns bad, it can also end up in people who starts becoming depressed that can lead withdrawing from relatives, buddies and perform poor at school or work.
Visible features of Acne and its effects:
Acne typically appears onto the skin. The site of occurrence is not fixed since acne can occur anywhere in the body but mostly they are found on back, shoulder, chest, buttocks and most importantly on the face/neck. Here are few of the visible features of acne –
Comedones :
This is an early stage of acne blemish, which is caused by blocked pores and in the beginning; the skin might not look red and swollen. These early blemishes are known as open comedones (also as blackspecks or blackheads) and closed comedones (also as whiteheads).
Papulesandpustules:
As those early spots turn larger and inflamed, they become papules and pustules that are also popular as pimples or zits.
Nodules :
In some of the people, large and deep lumps develop that are known as nodules and cysts (they are just like boils) and they can be painful.
Oilyskin:
Acne affected body/skin naturally gets its sebum production significantly increased so that the skin appears and feels oily.
Hyperpigmentation:
Once the inflammation subsides, the skin might get discolored since there is the formation of brown acne stains (called hyper pigmentation) and due to also damage by scars. Acne scars are quite common and might occur even after mild acne healing.
Who suffers from Acne?
Acne is the commonest among all skin disorders. Almost everyone has had acne, most get milder, some moderate and others who are unlucky, severe. Teenagers are not the only ones who suffer from it. Acne has also been seen in young infants as well as in the elderly, but it is most frequently seen in teenagers and young adults with 85-100% of striplings and up to 10% of young adults suffering from it.
Acne looks to affect the genders somewhat differently. Before children reaching puberties, acne is more commonly affect girls. During puberty, acne is seen in boys and girls almost equally, whereas boys normally have more severe cases and in their adulthoods, it tends to be seen more frequent in women.
Where acne develops?
One can have acne at any site of the skin where sebaceous gland is found. These are the glands producing oils for the skin that work as natural lubricant. Most, but not all people suffer from acne on their faces, but the skin on the chests and backs can also be affected. Acne can also be noticed on the arm and thigh, but is less common.
When Do People Get Acne?
Acne generally begins around the time one reaches puberty and usually will be mild. Often it lasts for about 5 years, but can last as long as 10-20 years. About 25% of teenagers who suffer from acne would still have them when they turn 25. However, the exact cause is not understood, but it is becoming more common for women who are in their 20s to 40s developing acne often for the first time. For a time being, one can also notice acne on the faces of infants.
How acne affects anyone?
Acne will not only cause physical discomfort and damage, but it will also have great emotional and social impacts in personal life. Acne (pimples or zits) might be tender and painful, and in severe cases, the pimples can ooze pus and blood, dirtying pillowcases and clothing. If one feels embarrassed and anxious about his or her appearance, this could be even more painful. Emotional effects can also end up in mood changes, depression, social withdrawals and hapless performance at school or at office. If acne is stubborn enough leaving scars, one might have to endure those emotional issues for years since scarring is not correctable so easily.
The treatment for acne
They are many depending upon the condition and degrees of acne. Right from homemade remedies to medications of antibiotics and hundreds of anti-acne lotions/creams/gels and powders to internally taking herbal medicines, acne treatment are very vast. Latest technology in medical science also has some laser therapy and something called dermabrasion that is considered to be useful treating acne.
