It must feel so good to be always cheerful and optimistic. Moreover, such people do exist! Optimists characteristic feature is finding positive aspects even in the worst things. What they might say about acne is, It is cool! These pimples are the first visible signs of the adulthood beginning. Here is where the real big life starts!
However, the times when acne was treated as the purely teenage problem are gone. For the last years the amount of adults, looking for the elimination of this skin condition, has significantly raised. This fact implies that grown-ups suffer from acne not less than teenagers. This suffering is rather psychological than physical (surely, acne cannot be compared to pain caused by the kidney stones, for example); nevertheless, it can greatly (negatively) affect the life of a person.
This article is aimed in providing basic facts about acne: what it is, how it is formed, and why it happens.
Acne is a skin inflammation, which occurs as a result of the clogging of sebaceous (oil) glands located near the hair follicles to moisturize skin.
These glands, commonly referred to as pores, get congested when the produced oil is mixed with the shed skin cells, because this sticky substance blocks the entrance to the glands, thus making it impossible for the oil to be carried out onto the skin.
It is a common knowledge that the outer skin surface epidermis constantly renews itself through peeling off the old and forming the new cells. Normally, this process does not lead to acne. However, in some cases the cells are not shed completely, remaining partially attached to the skin. This causes them get mixed with sebum (oil).
Even the clogged glands, called comedos, keep on producing oil, which has no way out onto the skin surface. It is, therefore, trapped in the pore, causing its swelling. In addition, bacteria, which are always present on our bodies, become also caught inside the gland. The conditions there are very favorable for them to rapidly multiply. In order to get rid of the excessive oil and bacteria, white blood cells are sent to the pore. The result of the described process is further inflammation of the skin, commonly known as pimples or zits. It takes about 2-3 weeks for a pimple to form and become visible.
Zits may occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and even on the upper arms. In general, pimples can appear on any part of the body.
For all those, who suffer from acne, perhaps, the most important question is: why does it happen? Scientists do not name the only one and simple reason for the development of acne. Rather a number of them can provoke the outbreak of this condition.
1. Hormones. Male hormones androgens stimulate functioning of the oil glands. If the amount of these hormones increases, pores respond by producing the excessive sebum, which can result in acne outbreak. That is why this condition is related to the period of puberty, when sebaceous glands are overstimulated by androgens (especially in young males), or during the menstrual cycle in women. Hormonal imbalance may also be provoked by the use of anabolic steroids - synthetic hormones, taken by body builders for faster growth of muscles and bone tissues. Hormonal imbalance may occur at any period of a persons life, thus being one of the reasons for the development of the adult acne.
2. Skin cells shedding. Depending on multiple factors, the regularity, with which your skin cells are shed, can change throughout your life. Rapid or heavy as well as partial shedding can increase the risks of acne development.
3. Genetics. Some time ago scientists denied any connection between acne and genetic predisposition, inherited from family members; however, recent research shows that it may also play a big role in the development of acne.
Consequently, it only seems that pimples on the skin surface are worthy of no attention. Looking deeper into the matter, one will definitely understand that even such condition must not be ignored.
Ivanna
| Tip for you : Sign-in with Your OpenID and post faster, easier and with easy access to all your past posts. | |
|
Your Nick: |
