Archive for the “Acne Causes” Category

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Can food cause acne? I get asked this question all the time.

Food is very important in most cases of acne. Anyone who has acne should think about various foods in relation to how much fat they contain. Sweet cream, whipped cream, butter, the fat part of meats and fried foods (because they are fried in fats)-including potato chips and French fried potatoes-increase the fat content of the blood stream.

This adds to the fat content of the skin and may make acne worse. Olives and nuts contain oils and should therefore be avoided. Peanut butter fits into this category, as do the usual margarines which are made with various hydrogenated fats.

Though sugar does not in itself make acne worse, chocolate is often the worst offender. Any form of chocolate, cookies, cake, syrup for milk and sundaes, cocoa, or ice cream often brings on an outbreak of quite a few blackheads and pimples. Some teen-agers can control acne simply by avoiding chocolate. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the most serious topics of conversation among teenagers is the very common appearance of acne with its pimples, blackheads and pus pockets.

Often the teen-ager is teased about the “meaning” of the pimples. They are an obvious accompaniment of early manhood or early womanhood. They are therefore given many erroneous meanings, sometimes in jest and at other times in earnest.

Occasionally adolescents are told that acne results from working too hard. Counter to this, its appearance is often said to be a sign of too much laziness. Boys and girls are sometimes told it comes from eating too much, sometimes that it is a result of not eating enough of the right foods. They are warned frequently that the acne is a form of punishment for thinking too much about sex or for experimenting with sex. At other times they are leeringly told, “You’ll never get rid of those pimples till you’ve had a little fun.”

Pimples & Hormones

The truth, though somewhat complicated, is easier to understand and much less likely to cause apprehension. Fundamentally acne is brought on by the same life-moving substances that produce the rapid growth and sexual development of adolescence. Read the rest of this entry »

We all think of acne as a teen problem and feel really bad about our acne issues as we get older, let’s face it we think that we should be done with our acne already. Well if you are out of your teens and still struggling with acne a new study shows that you are not alone.

While acne may traditionally be viewed as a teenage “rite of passage,” results from a groundbreaking national survey released show that acne is a problem that also commonly affects adults. The survey finds that acne can negatively impact many aspects of a person’s life — professional, academic, physical and social — and a basic lack of knowledge may be preventing or hindering appropriate treatment options.

Conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Retin-A Micro(R) Pump, the Skin Matters 2008 Survey is a comprehensive analysis designed to address acne-related issues and treatment considerations among teens, adults, parents and dermatologists.

Adults with acne report that the condition affects multiple facets of their lives, with 38% agreeing it is more stressful having acne as an adult than as a teenager, and 50% finding it to be unappealing, more so than having facial wrinkles (36%) or gray hair (29%). Adults with acne also state that it negatively impacts their self-confidence (41%) and mood (31%). Some report acne’s negative impacts on their lifestyle, such as refraining from asking for or accepting a date (9%), canceling social plans (7%), getting passed over for a promotion or raise (3%). Read the rest of this entry »

Acne is the medical term for common acne. Acne is widespread among teenagers, although a smaller percentage of adults in their 30’s and 40’s still get acne. Common acne is characterized by the presence of one or all of the following: whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustule or pimples that are seen on the face, chest, back, shoulders, even neck.

Thousands of oil glands can be found in the skin. The oil glands produce sebum, needed to help the skin stay moisturized and effective in its duty as the body’s protective barrier. The face, especially the nose, the mid -cheeks and the forehead have the highest density of oil glands. The back and mid-chest are the parts of the body where the largest oil glands are located. This explains why acne is mostly found in the greatest concentrations on the face, chest and back

Acne begins with clogged skin pores. The early, not-so-noticeable lesions are called comedones Comedones are either open like blackheads or closed like whiteheads. An open comedo is called a blackhead because of the blackish appearance of the skin pore clog. Likewise, a closed comedo is called whitehead because its pore plug is white or skin colored. In terms of openings, blackheads have distended opening around the follicle while a whitehead has a very narrow one, close to the hair follicle. While it’s very tempting, never squeeze your whiteheads or blackheads. Read the rest of this entry »

Acne does affect proportionally more teenagers than those in other age groups. But the fact is it can affect anyone, of any race, at any age. Combating it requires much the same treatment for anyone (other than infants).

Knowledge is the first weapon. In order to know how best to treat acne, it’s essential to know what type one has. A professional diagnosis can be helped immensely when the patient takes careful notes about his or her condition. When it started, the type of blemishes and any treatments already tried are big aids to a correct diagnosis.

Knowledge also helps avoid many of the downsides associated with the disease. There are numerous myths surrounding the causes and treatments of acne. There are good reasons to avoid excess chocolate consumption and drinking too many soft drinks. Avoiding acne is not among them. Nor will a good suntan get rid of it. Read the rest of this entry »

There are several common beliefs about the causes and course of acne that simply don’t square with scientific studies. Fortunately, it isn’t necessary to understand them in depth to separate fact from fancy. Common experience can help persuade, too.

Diet and acne

There’s no direct link between eating chocolate or greasy cheeseburgers and developing acne. Soft drinks do not increase the odds. What is true is that diet plays a role in all the body’s systems, and so has a minor part in whether acne is more or less likely.

For example, eating greasy foods doesn’t directly translate into increased oil production from the sebaceous glands that contribute to acne. But foods that do increase the oil production would. However, excess iodized salt is the only food substance that has been shown to have any substantial effect. It only worsens existing acne. It doesn’t cause it. Read the rest of this entry »

The short answer to the question ‘Who gets acne?’ is: nearly everyone sooner or later. But the breakdown of who and when is interesting and helpful.

Acne is a condition in which a skin pore becomes clogged as a result of excess dead skin cells and sebum, a natural skin oil, being unable to exit the follicle. That can lead to bacterial growth, rupture of the follicle wall and other circumstances that promote acne. Hormones called androgens are thought to be a major driver of the increase in sebum production.

Since it is during our teen years that hormone levels increase dramatically, it’s not surprising that acne shows up most prominently during this period. Acne typically develops in girls around age 11 and 13 in boys, reflecting the average age at which the two genders start puberty.

Once it develops, the incidence and severity is greater for males. Boys produce considerably more androgen hormones than females, and so they tend to develop more (and more severe) acne. Around 40% of teen acne is severe enough to warrant treatment by a dermatologist. Read the rest of this entry »

While there are always new questions to answer, many of the factors that tend to produce acne have been well researched.

Hormones and Sebum

It’s no accident that acne tends to be associated with teens. It strikes over 85% of us during those years. It’s at that stage of life when hormone levels rise sharply. Androgen levels increase in both males and females.

Among other effects, those stimulate the sebaceous glands that produce sebum, the natural oil found in hair follicles. The largest increases occur in the face, back and upper chest - right where acne tends to concentrate. The result can well be an outbreak of acne.

Increased oil or sebum isn’t generally a problem if it reaches the surface. It’s spread around, and often washed off with alcohol or soap and water by those who take good care of their skin. Still, blackheads may form as a result of the excess oil. Read the rest of this entry »

Acne blemishes are a nuisance in adolescence but for some people they occur in adult life as well. Unfortunately, adult cases of acne are often more persistent than teenage acne, and this can be particularly frustrating for those who were spared outbreaks as teenagers.Nearly 103 million people worldwide suffer from blemishes making them the most common skin problem. Clinique recently conducted a Global Truth in Beauty Survey in which almost 10,000 women from 12 countries were asked questions about their beauty habits and perceptions.

Women in China, Japan and South Korea claim that blemishes are their biggest skin care challenge - ahead of age spots, lines and wrinkles.

They also place more importance on beautiful skin than beautiful facial features and feel that having beautiful skin is possible if they take good care of themselves and their skin. Read the rest of this entry »

Women have different issues with acne and different causes than men. Here is ome infomration to help you isolate, as a woman, what is causing your acne

Acne results when the skin’s oil glands make too much of an oily substance called sebum. This can plug pores, triggering bacterial growth and skin lesions that we commonly call pimples.

Among women, a variety of factors can prompt an outbreak of acne. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers this list of possible triggers:

• Hormonal changes during puberty, or during the menstrual cycle.
• Changes in hormone levels caused by starting or stopping the birth control pill, or menopause.
• Some medications, including those that treat epilepsy and depression.
• Wearing makeup.
• Pressure or rubbing against the skin, such as from a hat or helmet.
• A family history of acne.