Acne – what is it?
Acne is a skin problem that usually begins in the
young teenage years and can last until the early 20s or even later.
It consists of mild to severe outbreaks of pimples and cysts - mainly
on the face, but also on the back, arms and chest. Cysts are lumps
under the skin that have pus and other tissue in them, but do not
come to a head like pimples do. These can sometimes cause scarring
and blotchy, uneven skin colour.
Hormones and genetics
At the start of puberty, a number of hormones are released into
the body. One of these hormones is androgen. Both boys and girls
have androgen, but boys have more of it. Androgen affects oil glands
in the skin of the face, neck, back, shoulders and chest. It makes
the glands grow bigger and produce more oil (sebum). Bacteria on
the skin make this oil thicken so that the pores become blocked,
resulting in blackheads, pimples and cysts.
A teenager is more likely to get acne if one of their parents experienced it during adolescence. But even in the same family, some people may get worse acne than others. Girls tend to get it at a younger age than boys and it can worsen or 'break out' at certain times of a girl's menstrual cycle, such as just before a period.
Boys often have more outbreaks than girls, and they often seem to get worse pimples and more cysts.
Self-help strategies
Suggestions for managing acne include:
- Washing - Cleaning the skin can help, but even people with very clean skin can have problems with acne. Try washing the affected areas two to three times per day. Don't overdo it. Too much washing can cause other skin problems, such as dryness or skin irritations. Try to keep hair clean and off the face and neck, since oil from the hair can make acne worse.
- Make-up - Choose water-based, oil free products. Make-up worn during the day should be thoroughly removed at night.
Don't squeeze - Do not pick or squeeze pimples. This can get germs into the skin around the pimple and make matters a lot worse. It can also lead to scarring of the skin. - Stress - Stress can trigger an outbreak of pimples. Stress causes the release of chemicals into the brain that can make oil glands release more oil onto the skin. This is why pimples seem to magically appear on stressful days, such as at the time of an exam or special date. Usually it is difficult to control things like tests or special events, but it's important to know that the stress has brought on the outbreak. The outbreak is not a sign that the treatments do not work.
- Diet - Many people think that lollies or chocolate cause pimples. Research has not been able to prove any such link, but some people find that it works this way for them. It is possible that a person eats chocolate when they are under a lot of stress, and that it is actually the stress that causes the pimples.
However, healthy eating may help, particularly increasing the intake of skin-friendly nutrients such as Omega-3, Zinc, Vitamin A and B-vitamins. These nutrients are also essential in assisting the skin’s healing processes.
Medications for Acne
Medications such as Roacctane are sometimes prescribed for very severe cases of acne, and work by reducing the sebum (oiliness) in the skin.
However they also have well known and quite debilitating side-effects, ranging from altered night vision, muscle soreness and increased susceptibility to sunburn, to extreme dryness of the mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth), hair loss, peeling hands and feet and severe mood swings. These drugs are also unsuitable for many people, including those with certain allergies and patients who are pregnant or plan to fall pregnant.
Potential implications need to be explored fully before taking on a course of acne medication.
Natural Solutions – Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree Oil is a natural antiseptic which has been used for hundreds
of years – Aboriginies used to use the leaves for wound healing.
It has natural antibacterial properties which help kill bacteria
associated with pimples and acne.
How to use:
Pure tea tree oil can be dabbed directly on blemishes to kill germs and help clear the skin. Repeat at least twice daily.
A few drops of tea tree oil can be added to normal moisturiser.
Note: Test first to see if there is any skin reaction before using pure tea tree oil. For sensitive skin, a 15% solution may be used (dilute 1:15).
See your doctor if symptoms persist.
References
Available on request
For more information, visit www.acne-resource.org This "Acne Resource Centre"
provides information about the scientific explanations of how acne
forms, what to do about it when it does and the impact that acne
can have on the lives of both young people and adults.
This material is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. If symptoms persist, please contact your healthcare professional.
