Thursday, 30 October 2008

What Is Acne ?

We at Acne-Get Rid welcome you to our site. We understand you need help to get rid of acne, so let us show you how to do it.

Acne is a very common skin disorder that most young people get in early puberty. It is caused by inflammation of the small oil glands (sebaceous glands) that surround the fine hairs on the face and chest.

Acne is the term for plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and even deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and even the upper arms. Acne affects most teenagers to some extent. However, the disease is not restricted to any age group; adults in their 20s - even into their 40s - can get acne. While not a life threatening condition, acne can be upsetting and disfiguring. When severe, acne can lead to serious and permanent scarring.

Even less severe cases can lead to scarring.Hormonal changes related to pregnancy or menstrual periods can also causeor contribute to acne. This is also the case with environmental irritants suchas pollution, intense heat, humidity or cold.

Who Gets Acne ?

Close to 100% of people between the ages of twelve and seventeen have at least an occasional whitehead, blackhead or pimple, regardless of race or ethnicity. Many of these young people are able to manage their acne with over-the-counter (nonprescription) treatments. For some, however, acne is more serious. In fact, by their mid-teens, more than 40% of adolescents have acne severe enough to require some treatment by a physician.

In most cases, acne starts between the ages of ten and thirteen and usually lasts for five to ten years. It normally goes away on its own sometime in the early twenties. However, acne can persist into the late twenties or thirties or even beyond. Some people get acne for the first time as adults.

Acne affects young men and young women about equally, but there are differences. Young men are more likely than young women to have more severe, longer lasting forms of acne. Despite this fact, young men are less likely than young women to visit a dermatologist for their acne. In contrast, young women are more likely to have intermittent acne due to hormonal changes associated with their menstrual cycle and acne caused by cosmetics. These kinds of acne may afflict young women well into adulthood.

Acne lesions are most common on the face, but they can also occur on the neck, chest, back, shoulders, scalp, and upper arms and legs.

What Are The Causes And Treatments ?

Acne is caused by overactivity of the sebaceous glands that secrete oily substances on to your skin.

The surface of your skin has lots of small sebaceous glands just below the surface. These glands make sebum (a natural oil) that keeps the skin smooth and supple. Tiny pores (holes in the skin) allow the sebum to come to the surface of your skin. Hairs also grow through these pores.

The sebaceous glands of people with acne are especially sensitive to normal blood levels of a hormone called testosterone, found naturally in both men and women.

If you are prone to acne, testosterone triggers the sebaceous glands to produce excess sebum. At the same time, the dead skin cells lining the openings of the hair follicles (the tubes that hold the hair) aren't shed properly and clog up the follicles. The combination of these two effects causes a build-up of oil in your hair follicles. This causes blackheads and whiteheads to form.

Contrary to popular belief, acne isn't caused by diet or hygiene. However, acne can be hereditary.

So what is the answer ? Don't despair, because we at Acne-Get Rid can show you how to get rid of acne and BECOME ACNE FREE IN 3 DAYS!. So don't suffer any longer, check it out now !