What is acne?
Acne is a disorder resulting from the action of hormones
on the skin's oil glands (sebaceous glands), which leads to
plugged pores and outbreaks of lesions commonly called
pimples or zits. Acne lesions usually occur on the face,
neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Nearly 17 million people
in the United States have acne, making it the most common
skin disease. Although acne is not a serious health threat,
severe acne can lead to disfiguring, permanent scarring,
which can be upsetting to people who are affected by the
disorder.
Source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal
and Skin Diseases
What causes acne?
The exact cause of acne is unknown, but doctors believe it
results from several related factors. One important factor
is an increase in hormones called androgens (male sex
hormones). These increase in both boys and girls during
puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make
more sebum. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy or
starting or stopping birth control pills can also cause
acne.
Another factor is heredity or genetics. Researchers believe
that the tendency to develop acne can be inherited from
parents. For example, studies have shown that many
school-age boys with acne have a family history of the
disorder. Certain drugs, including androgens and lithium,
are known to cause acne. Greasy cosmetics may alter the
cells of the follicles and make them stick together,
producing a plug.
Source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal
and Skin Diseases
How does acne develop?
Doctors describe acne as a disease of the pilosebaceous
units (PSUs). Found over most of the body, PSUs consist of a
sebaceous gland connected to a canal, called a follicle,
that contains a fine hair. These units are most numerous on
the face, upper back, and chest. The sebaceous glands make
an oily substance called sebum that normally empties onto
the skin surface through the opening of the follicle,
commonly called a pore. Cells called keratinocytes line the
follicle.
The hair, sebum, and keratinocytes that fill the narrow
follicle may produce a plug, which is an early sign of acne.
The plug prevents sebum from reaching the surface of the
skin through a pore. The mixture of oil and cells allows
bacteria Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) that normally
live on the skin to grow in the plugged follicles. These
bacteria produce chemicals and enzymes and attract white
blood cells that cause inflammation. (Inflammation is a
characteristic reaction of tissues to disease or injury and
is marked by four signs: swelling, redness, heat, and pain.)
When the wall of the plugged follicle breaks down, it spills
everything into the nearby skin--sebum, shed skin cells, and
bacteria--leading to lesions or pimples.
People with acne frequently have a variety of lesions, some
of which are shown in the diagrams below. The basic acne
lesion, called the comedo (KOM-e-do), is simply an enlarged
and plugged hair follicle. If the plugged follicle, or
comedo, stays beneath the skin, it is called a closed comedo
and produces a white bump called a whitehead. A comedo that
reaches the surface of the skin and opens up is called a
blackhead because it looks black on the skin's surface. This
black discoloration is not due to dirt. Both whiteheads and
blackheads may stay in the skin for a long time.
Other troublesome acne lesions can develop, including the
following:
Papules--inflamed lesions that usually appear as small, pink
bumps on the skin and can be tender to the touch
Pustules (pimples)--papules topped by pus-filled lesions
that may be red at the base
Nodules--large, painful, solid lesions that are lodged deep
within the skin
Cysts--deep, painful, pus-filled lesions that can cause
scarring.
Source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal
and Skin Diseases
What research is being done on acne?
Medical researchers are working on new drugs to treat
acne, particularly topical antibiotics to replace some of
those in current use. As with many other types of bacterial
infections, doctors are finding that, over time, the
bacteria that are associated with acne are becoming
resistant to treatment with certain antibiotics. Research is
also being conducted by industry on the potential side
effects of isotretinoin and the long-term use of medicines
used for treating acne.
Scientists are working on other means of treating acne. For
example, researchers are studying the biology of sebaceous
cells and testing a laser in laboratory animals to treat
acne by disrupting sebaceous glands. Scientists are also
studying the treatment of androgenic disorders, including
acne, in men by inhibiting an enzyme that changes
testosterone to a more potent androgen.
Source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal
and Skin Diseases.
Products for the treatment of acne
We offer a variety of products for treatment of acne.
Please click here to see all
products or here for the
Dermaray UV for spot treatment of
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