Adolescents and Acne
Acne usually develops at the onset of puberty probably because of the increase in hormone activity during this period leading to the excessive production of oil or sebum by the sebaceous glands that are below the skin's surface. The sebaceous (oil) glands release oil through the hair follicles and when excessive sebum is produced, it can lead to these hair follicles becoming clogged with oil, bacteria and other debris that can lead to the formation of pimples, blackheads, cysts, etc.
The main hormone responsible for the overactive oil glands is the male hormone testosterone which is produced in greater amounts during puberty. Besides hormones, the development of acne in adolescents can also be attributed to various other factors such as the use of certain drugs such as lithium, corticosteroids and barbiturates.
Having oily hair can also lead to the development of acne on the face especially along the hair line. The use of certain cosmetics can also lead to the development of acne. While foods such as chocolate or fried foods have not been found to cause acne, if an acne sufferer determines that certain foods appear to aggravate acne, reducing or eliminating that food may be wise to see whether there is a noticeable change in the acne.
Common areas affected by acne include the face, back, chest, neck and shoulders since sebaceous glands are present in greater amounts in these areas. The seriousness of acne can vary from a few pimples and blackheads here and there to the more severe cysts filled with pus that can be very painful in addition to leaving behind unattractive scars when they heal. In order to eliminate acne especially the more serious forms of acne, the care of a doctor may be necessary.
Acne Treatments
There are many ways to eliminate acne including using natural means but one thing to remember is to avoid aggravating the problem by picking or squeezing the pimples or scrubbing the skin aggressively. Doing this will not help you eliminate acne but will instead make the problem worse and lead to scarring.
Most treatments available to eliminate acne are mainly used to decrease the development of pimples and blackheads as well as treat or reduce acne scars and create beautiful blemish free skin which is what any adolescent or any other person with acne wishes for.
The main treatments for acne are broken down into topical or drug therapy using various antibiotics depending on the seriousness of the problem.
1. Topical Treatments
Topical treatments to eliminate acne include the various gels, creams, lotions, etc, that can be prescribed to acne sufferers or available over the counter. These topical treatments usually include an ingredient that seeks to regulate sebum production and kill acne causing bacteria such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Topical treatments may also contain various antibiotics that can help eliminate acne and reduce inflammation.
2. Drug Therapies
For many types of acne especially the more severe cases of acne involving cysts, drug therapies using various antibiotics taken orally in order to eliminate acne will usually be prescribed by the doctor. One of the most common drug therapies to eliminate acne is Accutane. Other antibiotics prescribed for the treatment of acne include tetracycline, erythromycin, doxycycline, etc.
For adolescents with severe acne, Isotretinoin may also be prescribed and eliminates acne by first shrinking the size of the sebaceous glands so that less oil is produced. With most drug therapies, there are various side effects associated with them and close doctor monitoring is very important.
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