What is Acne?

What is acne?

Acne is a chronic inflammatory disorder that is present on the skin. It produces whiteheads, blackheads and pimples. It is the most common skin disorder and millions of people suffer from it.

What causes acne?

Acne is caused by sebum. Sebum is an oil of the skin. When there is an excess build-up of sebum, our skins pores become clogged and then the pimples form. Sebum over-generates when our hormone level is increased. During puberty, menstruation and menopause hormone levels are very high. So many people experience acne during this time.

Who can get acne?

The simple answer is anyone can get acne. However, teens are more prone to the disorder. 75% of teenagers will develop the skin condition throughout their teen years. Both genders are susceptible to it but, boys tend to get more severe acne and may also get it for a longer period of time. This is most likely due to the levels of testosterone. Adults, children and babies can also get the skin disorder, but it is not very common.

Is there an acne cure?

There is no cure for acne, but there are many treatment options available that can control the disorder.

What are the acne treatments?

Benzoyl peroxide is one of the most common forms of acne treatment. It kills the bacteria that causes acne and also helps unclog pores. It is found in cleansers, creams and gels. Another common acne treatment is salicylic acid. This treatment help shed dead skin cells. Dead skin cells can clog pores and therefore, acne can form. By eliminating the dead cells, the acne is reduced. Alcohol and acetone are also acne treatments. These tend to go hand-in-hand and work best when combined. The alcohol kills the bacteria that causes acne and the acetone reduces the amount of sebum that is produced.

What is the best way to prevent acne?

The best way to prevent acne is to use some treatment and to keep your skin clean. Keeping the bacteria that causes acne to a minimum will help prevent acne. Using a cleanser that contains an acne fighting treatment will be most beneficial.