What is Acne and What Causes It?

Zits. Pimples. Black heads. White heads. It comes in many forms but produces the same feelings of irritation and horror among both teens and adults alike.

Acne affects 40% of children between the ages of 8 and 10 and 85% of adolescents. This same condition can also persist till adulthood affecting approximately 10% of the U.S. population.

While acne is more common in adolescents, it can also come out in early adulthood and in some cases even persist stubbornly into mid-adulthood. Low-grade forms of acne also affects an estimated 40 to 50% of adult women. (Nguyen et al., 1994).

Clinically speaking, acne develops when hair folicles become blocked with dead skin cells thereby causing a buildup of oil, This oil buildup then becomes a conducive nesting ground for bacteria which in turn causes the skin to swell. This causes its physical manifestations of blackheads, whiteheads and spots and the much dreaded pimples or "zits.".

In principle, acne is actually part of the body's "waste-disposal" processes. Germs that get into the sebaceous glands cause inflammation and infection of pus. Pus then builds up and once ripe, bursts from the "spot" and releases its contents out onto the skin. The cavity left by the pus is then filled with scar tissue that causes dark pigmentation. ("WHY DO I KEEP," 2005, p. 73)

While acne is non-life threatening, if not treated well it can also leave scarring both physically and emotionally. Acne has been said to make teenagers reclusive given the social stigma and shame among teens of having a "zit." While most kids normally pass or out grow this phase, those who are unfortunate to have a bad case of acne may suffer from a lack of self-confidence, which may very well go until adulthood.

Adults suffering from acne often experience feelings of low self-confidence, low self -esteem and embarrassment. Even celebrities and known beauties have experienced insecurities and low self-esteem brought about by acne.

Marketing executive Judy Smith recounts her horror at developing acne at 24.
"It was a great shock when I first got the spots because they were very large, painful cysts and extremely difficult to get rid of. "They went from my ear down to the lower section of my face and chin. I tried two courses of antibiotics but neither worked. For two years, the acne was very bad and I tried all sorts of treatments, none of which worked. "I got very depressed and lost all my confidence with men. It's a very upsetting time to get spots because I wanted to date men but I just couldn't have my skin close to their gaze. (Weitz, 1998, p. 30)

Keith Duffy, one of the stars of the former "boyband" Boyzone and one of Ireland's "sexiest men" admits to once being plagued by acne that he lost his self-confidence and suffered greatly at the hands of bullies. ("Acne Got Me in," 2006, p. 19) He shares:
"About 14 or 15 I got an awful time at school. Some mornings my face was so bad my mother wouldn't even send me to school. "Brunch, Pizzaface, Join-the-Dots - I got all the names." ("Acne Got Me in," 2006, p. 19)

Cameron Diaz of Charlie's Angels fame is just one of many adult acne sufferers:
"My skin is so over-sensitive I get inflamed spots even at the smallest thing," she laments. ("Your Life: Celebrity Skin," 2005, p. 36)

To a certain extent having acne is one thing a person can blame his or parents about since it is partially caused by genetics. If the parents suffered from acne, their kids will most likely have it too. Stress and high levels of the hormone androgen are also factors, which may contribute to acne since they both cause an increase in oil secretions. ("Health Zone: Questions about," 2000, p. 35)

Stress is also a great contributor to the outbreak of acne in adults. "There is definitely an increase in late-onset acne," says dermatologist Dr Penelope Tympanidis. "This occurs in the twenties rather than the teens - though it can also occur in the overthirties. Teenage acne is usually brought about by hormonal changes in the body; in your twenties, the issues are more complex, though hormones are often to blame since stress has an effect on hormone levels. ("Help! I Have Bad," 2005, p. 24)

There are several types of acne, the most common being acne vulgaris which is most prevalent among teens due to the increased hormonal activity during puberty which in turn causes an increase in the production of oil by the sebaceous glands. Menstrual cycles which also causes shifts in hormonal levels can also cause a person to have acne.

The other more uncommon forms of acne include tropical acne, which affects fair-skinned people who are suddenly exposed to high heat and humidity and chloracne, which is caused by exposure to chlorinated hydrocarbons. ("Acne" 2004) Chlorinated hydrocarbons are most commonly found in cleaning chemicals like those used for dry cleaning or as degreasers.

While the use of cosmetics is not bad per se, constant exposure to external oils whether from oil-based cosmetics or cooking oils can also exacerbate the problem. Washing the skin can help prevent the spread of acne in a two-fold manner since it washes off excess surface oils and helps limit bacteria, which can spread to other areas of the face. Article contributed by www.NaturalAcneTreatmentReview.com