Embarrassed and bothered no end by acne? That's unfortunate! But you're certainly not alone with this predicament. It is estimated that about eighty percent of teenagers suffer from the unsightly presence of acne, even if these are mere pimples. And of those who have acne, about twenty percent is afflicted with the more harsh forms which leave an even more embarrassing trace we know as scar.
Acne is an inflammatory disease. Its ugliness is difficult to conceal as it usually affects the skin of the face, neck, and shoulders. Often it becomes manifest during a person's early teen years and persists into his or her twenties. In a show of surrender, some people with acne accept their suffering as being a natural consequence of getting out of the childhood years. Still, it is important that people understand what really causes acne.
During the transition period from childhood to adolescence, sex hormones are produced by the glands. As these hormones circulate through the body tissues, they arouse the oil glands to greater activity. (These oil glands - scientifically termed sebaceous glands - are associated with the hair vesicles of the skin.) And as the cells within these oil glands increase in number at such a rapid pace, they cause the glands' outlets to be obstructed. The glands proceed with their activity though their secretion can't reach the external layer of the skin anymore. As this happens, white specks (which we call "whiteheads") are produced by the bulging of the tiny glands which stretch the surrounding tissues. The deeply-entrenched secretion then goes through a process of chemical change, making it appear black (what we know as "blackhead"). Stretching some more, the sebaceous glands and the hair vesicles break, causing inflammation on the affected area. Small solid, conical elevations (papules) develop next, followed by pustules (more commonly known as pimples). Under a more harsh condition, microorganisms penetrate the skin as the delicate tissues are shattered, resulting to infections.
Promoting one's overall health so as to be more resistant to all sorts of disorder is a necessary primary step in treating acne. A treatment program usually involves the following series of actions: Cleansing the affected parts, at least twice a day, with warm water and non-medicated soap; refraining from using cosmetics for the entire treatment period; getting sufficient rest (this is when an eight-hour-a-night sleep is very important); having a well-balanced diet; and avoiding the use of drugs or medications that are not prescribed by a physician.
What's more important for people to know is that there is a scientifically-proven natural way that can cure acne permanently - something that acne sufferers are certainly looking for.
