Archive for May, 2010
How Acne Starts and How yuo Can Stop IT
Acne affects almost everyone more than 90% of all adolescents, nearly 50% of all adult women and 25% of all adults. Crossing gender lines as well as national borders, it’s one of the most widespread medical conditions in the world. Yet there’s still no cure.
But there is hope. While acne is not curable, it is treatable. We now know more about controlling this condition than ever before. The secret to managing acne is prevention stopping this condition before it exhibits visual symptoms. Once you have found an acne treatment that helps you accomplish this, it’s important to stick with it. Even after pimples disappear, you may need to continue treatment to keep new blemishes at bay. It’s also crucial to begin treatment as soon as the first signs appear; the sooner you address your acne, the less likely you are to experience permanent damage to your skin. Of course, in order to stop acne, we must first find out how it starts.
What causes acne? One of the most important things you can learn about acne is this:
It’s not your fault. Contrary to popular belief, acne is not caused by anything you’re doing what you eat, how often you wash your face or work out but by a combination of factors at work far beneath the surface of your skin.
A healthy follicle
A blemish begins approximately 2-3 weeks before it appears on your skin’s surface. It starts in your sebaceous hair follicles the tiny holes commonly called pores. Deep within each follicle, your sebaceous glands are working to produce sebum, the oil that keeps your skin moist and pliable. As your skin renews itself, the old cells die, mix with your skin’s natural oils, and are sloughed off. Under normal circumstances, these cells are shed gradually, making room for fresh new skin.
But sloughing is different for everyone. Some people shed cells evenly; some don’t. Uneven shedding causes dead cells to become sticky, clumping together to form a plug much like a cork in a bottle. This plug, or comedo, traps oil and bacteria inside the follicle.
A plugged follicle
The plug traps oil and bacteria within the follicle, which begins to swell as your skin continues its normal oil production. Your body then attacks the bacteria with a busy swarm of white blood cells. The whole process takes 2-3 weeks, culminating in a pimple.
An inflamed acne lesion
Why me? There is no one simple “cause” of acne the condition is influenced by many factors, many which are out of your control. The regularity with which you shed skin cells can change throughout your life. The rate at which you produce sebum is affected by your hormone balance, which is often in flux especially for women. Research has also shown that genetics play a big part in the development and persistence of acne, so your family history is a valuable prediction tool as well when considering the various causes of acne.
One of the best weapons in the fight against acne, however, is knowledge; if you know what causes acne, it’s easier to formulate a good plan of attack. There are five primary culprits contributing to this process. Each of these factors may vary dramatically between individuals. While you don’t have control over these factors, understanding them can help you in your search for the proper acne treatment.
Acne Causes – Culprit #1: Hormones. For the majority of acne sufferers, the trouble begins at puberty, when the body begins to produce hormones called androgens. These hormones cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge, which is a natural part of the body’s development. In acne sufferers, however, the sebaceous glands are overstimulated by androgens, sometimes well into adulthood. Androgens are also responsible for acne flare-ups associated with the menstrual cycle and, on occasion, pregnancy.
Acne Causes – Culprit #2: Extra sebum. When the sebaceous gland is stimulated by androgens, it produces extra sebum. In its journey up the follicle toward the surface, the sebum mixes with common skin bacteria and dead skin cells that have been shed from the lining of the follicle. While this process is normal, the presence of extra sebum in the follicle increases the chances of clogging and can cause acne.
Acne Causes – Culprit #3: Follicle fallout. Normally, dead cells within the follicle shed gradually and are expelled onto the skin’s surface. But in patients with overactive sebaceous glands and in nearly everyone during puberty these cells are shed more rapidly. Mixed with a surplus of sebum, the dead skin cells form a plug in the follicle, preventing the skin from finishing its natural process of renewal.
Acne Causes – Culprit #4: Bacteria. The bacterium Propionibacterium acnes, (P. acnes for short) is a regular resident of all skin types; it’s part of the skin’s natural sebum maintenance system. Once a follicle is plugged, however, P. acnes bacteria multiply rapidly, creating the chemical reaction we know as inflammation in the follicle and surrounding skin.
Acne Causes – Culprit #5: Inflammation. When your body encounters unwanted bacteria, it sends an army of white blood cells to attack the intruders. This process is called chemotaxis; or, simply put, the inflammatory response. This is what causes pimples to become red, swollen and painful. The inflammatory response is different for everyone, but studies have shown that it is especially strong in adult women.
What can I do? Fortunately, you have options! There are many kinds of acne treatments available today. But first, you should try to determine the type and severity of your condition. Acne, like a person, is highly individual it can take many forms, and have a highly variable response to treatment. The more you know about your specific form of acne, the more likely you are to find a treatment that works for you. Learn more about the types of acne.
Kerwin Chang writes for http://www.acnestuff.net where you can find out more about acne and other skin care topics.
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Everything you Need to Know About Acne Rosacea
Acne Rosacea: Another Silent Epidemic
Marie Nadeau, licensed aesthetician
A number of disorders with puzzling etiologies are growing to epidemic proportions. Today were going to talk about one that doesnt get much press because it is not life-threatening. However, the fact that the skin disorder acne rosacea is estimated to afflict between 14 to 16 million Americans, with the number of sufferers growing by leaps and bounds, speaks to something rotten in the state of the union, to paraphrase Hamlets Marcellus. But before we explore why it might be that rosacea has joined the ranks of other diseases such as breast cancer and autism, disorders that are both mysterious in origin and growing in numbers, lets look at what rosacea is.
Rosacea by Definition
The Journal of American Academy of Dermatology (United States), Apr 2002, 46(4) p584-7) gives us the following description:
“Rosacea is a chronic cutaneous disorder, primarily of the central face.
It is often characterized by remission and exacerbation and it encompasses
various combinations of such cutaneous signs as flush, erythema,
telangiectasias, edema, papules, pustules, ocular lesions, and rhinophyma.
Primary features considered as necessary for diagnosis include flushing,
erythema, papules, pustules, and telangiectasias. A variety of secondary
features are listed that may be absent or present as a single finding or
in any combination.”
In other words, rosacea is a common, chronic, progressive inflammatory skin disorder based upon vascular instability. Primarily affecting the central part of the face, rosacea is characterized by facial flushing/blushing, facial redness, papules, pustules, and dilated capillaries. In severe cases, particularly in men, the soft tissue of the nose may swell, producing the bulbous enlargement known as rhinophyma– two examples of rhinophyma are W.C. Fields, who had an extremely advanced case, and former President Clinton. A diagnosis of rosacea requires the presence of primary features such as flushing, facial redness, pustules and/or dilated capillaries. Ocular lesions, rhinophyma and/or swelling may or may not be present.
Rosacea generally occurs between the ages of 25 and 70 years, and is much more common in fair-complected people, in fact, it’s often called the “Celtic curse.” Women are more likely than men to have rosacea, although the disease is generally more severe in men. Rosacea is chronic, and can persist for years with periods of exacerbation and remission.
In addition to skin problems, up to 50 percent of people who have rosacea have eye problems caused by the condition. Typical symptoms of ocular rosacea include redness,
dryness, itching, burning, tearing, and the sensation of having sand in the eye. The eyelids may become inflamed and swollen. Some people say their eyes are sensitive to light and their vision is blurred or otherwise impaired.
The Acne Connection
Rosacea was originally called “acne rosacea” because its inflammatory papules and pustules so closely mimic those of acne vulgaris. Unlike acne vulgaris however, whose etiology is based on the interaction of abnormal keratinization, increased sebum production and bacterial-induced inflammation, rosacea’s inflammation is vascular in nature. Rosacea is caused by the dilation of tiny microvessels called arterioles, capillaries, and venules, which occurs close to the surface of the skin. This causes the skin to break out with blotchy red areas called papules. A papule is a red solid elevated inflammatory skin lesion without pus (unless the papule is severe). These papules have three classifications; minor, moderate and severe. A minor Rosacea papule is the size of a small measles lesion. A moderate Rosacea papule is the size of a pencil eraser. A severe papule is the size of a coin and also contains pustules (pus-filled inflammatory bumps).
Because changes are gradual, rosacea may be hard to recognize in its early stages. Many people mistake rosacea for a sunburn, a complexion change, or acne–especially the latter, as some rosacea sufferers do have a significant acne component in their symptoms. A few discernible differences can help to make the correct diagnosis: rosacea usually does not present with the blackheads that are seen with acne vulgaris, the papules and pustules are less follicular in origin, the age of onset is older, and the location of redness is usually restricted to the nose, cheeks, chin and forehead. Rosacea will probably have an underlying redness that is related to flushing and thus will look different than acne vulgaris, as acne sufferers normally do not have the accompanying redness. Rosacea can develop gradually as mild episodes of facial blushing or flushing which, over time, may lead to a permanently red face.
The identifying features of rosacea are:
* a diffuse transient redness of the skin of the face and neck caused either by emotion (blush) or physical/external stimuli (flush), such as drinking hot liquids or eating spicy foods
*increased oiliness of the skin
*blemishes/pimples (papules and pustules)
*enlargement of the small blood vessels of the face (telangiectasias)
*increased pore size
*swelling of the skin, especially of the nose (rhinophyma)
*eye involvement (blepharitis, conjunctivitis, iritis, keratitis)
A predisposition to rosacea or “prerosacea” may be identified in the teens and twenties. The patient may have a family history of rosacea, easily blush, and frequently develop transient redness and/or burning and stinging in response to topical anti-acne medications or over-the-counter skin care products such as sunscreens, astringents, cleansers, perfumes, colognes or after-shave preparations. Without treatment, prerosacea (early rosacea) can progress through the three stages of rosacea that may eventually lead to severe facial disfigurement.
Stages of Rosacea
“Rosacea is primarily a disorder of the facial blood vessels. Experts from
across the world agree that vascular abnormalities are central to all
stages and symptoms of rosacea”. –Beating Rosacea, Vascular, Ocular and Acne Forms, by Geoffrey Nase PhD, Nase Publications 2001.
Rosacea experts talk about rosacea symptoms appearing in 4 stages. Over time rosacea can progress from one stage to the next.
Pre-Rosacea: in the first cardinal sign of rosacea blood vessels dilate to
more stimuli, open wider and stay open for longer periods of time compared
to normal persons. No visible damage can normally be seen.
Mild Rosacea: begins when the facial redness induced by flushing persists
for an abnormal length of time – usually 1/2 an hour or more after a
trigger. Those who have frequent pre-rosacea flushing are highly
susceptible to progressing to mild rosacea.
Some of the common triggers for a facial flush are heat, cold, emotions,
exercise, topical irritants and allergic reactions.
Moderate Rosacea: as facial flushing becomes more frequent and intense,
vascular damage occurs. This can result in long lasting redness, swelling
and inflammatory papules and pustules. Telangiectasia (damaged micro blood
vessels, often visible on the surface of the skin) may be noticed in the
areas where flushing is worst.
Severe Rosacea: characterized by intense bouts of facial flushing, severe
inflammation, facial pain, swelling and burning sensations. Sufferers may
develop intolerance to products they were able to use before. Also
inflammatory papules, pustules and nodules may be present. Some experience
a bulbous enlargement of the nose known as rhinophyma.
FlushingWhat Triggers It
A common denominator for rosacea sufferers is that they have more facial vessels or the vessels that they have are severely damaged. The result is that anything that stimulates facial dilation cannot be handled easily or properly. The more blood vessels one has near the surface of the skin, the more one is likely to flush and stay flushed. Rosacea is a progressive skin disorder unless treated. The blood vessels continue to grow with age and are stimulated and damaged by stress, food/drinks, dehydration, weather, sun exposure, abrasive soaps/exfoliating medications, hot bath, exercise, etc.
The following descriptions of flushing triggers should be considered in context–flushing occurs as part of a complex interaction of several systems.
Clock rosacea or systemic flushing- The body operate on a biological clock. Hospital medical staff have been aware for years that the lowest body temperature of the 24 hour day is usually around 3:00 to 4:00 A.M. while the highest temperature of the day is generally 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. The average rosacea sufferer does not have hospital waking and sleeping hours, therefore their temperature lows and highs may vary 3 to 5 hours each way. A high temperature for some may be as early as 3:00 P.M.
Nervous system flushing–Flushing usually occurs when the body becomes fatigued and/or stressed. This stimulates the autonomic sympathetic nervous system, specifically, the sympathetic postganglionic efferent nerves. Any activation of these nerves causes vasoconstriction of “body blood vessels” except in the “facial blush/flush areas” where it induces potent vasodilatation or flushing with the resulting “rosacea flush”. The following events can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system to produce flushing.
Stress
Lack of sleep
Anxiety (fight or flight)
Increase in internal body temperature
Nervousness or embarrassment
The sympathetic nervous system is especially important to rosacea patients who tend to have one or more of the following:
* Genetically weak blood vessels
* Damaged blood vessels from years of sun
* Damaged support system for blood vessels (collagen-elastin of skin)
* Increased number of blood vessels.
Heavy meal flushing and sugar/carbohydrate flushing- This flushing or vascular dilation is caused by more stress on the digestive system resulting in a higher blood flow to the digestive system with the residual blood flow being heavier to the face. Remember that simple carbohydrates such as donuts, sugars, alcohol, etc. enter the blood stream quickly causing hyperglycemia (high glucose spikes). This rapid influx of sugar into the blood stream is a potent vasodilator.
Steroid flushing – “Never, never, never, ever prescribe steroids for rosacea” Dr.Kligman (Dermatology-University of Philadelphia) & Dr. Pleig (Dermatologische Klinik Und Poliklinik der Universitat Munchen, Germany) state in their 1973 book, Acne & Rosacea, First edition. Likewise, their second edition in 1993 harshly criticizes dermatologists who prescribe steroids for rosacea. Here is what they have to say:
When a rosacea patient is erroneously treated for a prolonged time with topical steroids the disorder may at first respond, but inevitably the signs of steroid atrophy emerge with thinning of the skin and marked increase in telangiectases. The complexion becomes dark red with a copper-like hue. Soon the surface becomes studded with round, follicular, deep papulopustules, firm nodules, and even secondary comedones. The appearance is shocking with a flaming red, scaling, papule-covered face. Steroid rosacea is an ‘avoidable condition’ which in addition to disfigurement is accompanied by severe discomfort and pain. Withdrawal of the steroid is inevitably accompanied by exacerbation of the disease, a trying experience for a patient and physician. Always avoid steroids or cortisones for any purpose. If you are on them now, get off as quickly as possible as the body and skin continue to be further addicted to steroids or cortisones for any medical purpose. Most dermatologists know not to prescribe a steroid for rosacea. (1)
Adrenaline flushing – This kind of vascular dilation is caused by an adrenaline rush accompanied by immediate or instant flushing. It has the same appearance as that caused by sympathetic nerve involvement, but the main trigger here is hormone release. Stress is the body’s reaction to a perceived threat. Adrenaline and hormones are released and the nervous system is activated to sharpen our senses, increase pulse rate, tense muscles and shut down the immune system. People under stress may experience fatigue, upset stomach, frequent headaches, and a flushing face.
Exercise flushingas the cardiovascular system pumps harder and faster blood vessels dilate and cause flushing. Exercise should be done moderately in a cool area keeping the body well hydrated with water to minimize the redness.
Cigarette flushing Smoking depletes the skin of vitamin C (essential for the formation of collagen), accelerates the cross linkage of collagen and the hardening of elastin, and creates free radicals which destroy capillary structures. Smoking robs the skin of oxygen and is a potent initiator of telangiectasis. In addition, the smoker may have a variety of medical problems such as high blood pressure and mineral deficiencies which can cause the appearance of telangiectasis.
Hot shower/bath flushing –The stimulation of hot showers/baths causes vascular dilation.
Alcohol flushing – There are several factors that contribute to alcohol flushing. First of all, allergy redness can result from drinking beer and red wine. In addition, alcohol is a diuretic which pushes water out of the body cells. In this state of dehydration the body is prone to flushing. Besides the above, alcohol is a concentrated source of calories and is metabolized very quickly, causing the blood vessels to dilate.
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Chilly or cold weather flushing — These flushing flare ups result from coming in from the cold into a warm room. When the rosacea sufferer is outside in the cold weather the cardiovascular system is pumping hard, however, due to conservation of energy the extremities such as the feet, hands, ears, and nose get less blood supply than the rest of the body. When this person enters a heated room the warmer temperatures quickly warms the facial skin areas and extremities while the cardiovascular system is still in a moderately high exercise mode.
Pollen and contact flushing – Spring in most countries is the time for pollen and mold spores, which can affect many rosacea sufferers.
Sun exposure flushing– All forms of ultraviolet radiation are believed to contribute to the development of skin cancer, and likewise cause havoc for the rosacea sufferer.
UVA rays constitute 90-95% of the ultraviolet light reaching the earth. They have a relatively long wavelength (320-400 nm) and are not absorbed by the ozone layer. UVA light penetrates the furthest into the skin and is involved in the initial stages of suntanning. UVA tends to suppress the immune function and is implicated in premature aging of the skin.
UVB rays are partially absorbed by the ozone layer and have a medium wavelength (290-320 nm). They do not penetrate the skin as far as the UVA rays do and are the primary cause of sunburn.
UVC
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Acne Talk – Understanding the Causes of Acne
Acne is a dermatological condition wherein the small pores in the human skin become irritated due to a buildup of dirt and oil. In many instances, even the small glands responsible for the production of natural skin oils become irritated and become infected, leading to appearance of unsightly reddish lesions on the surface of the skin. Often, acne, or acne vulgaris appears in the most inconvenient region of the human body: the face.
Since the face is often the unguarded part of the human body, it receives a medley of particulates, gases and pollutants on a daily basis. Such a condition, plus the factors of age group and hormone levels, lead to acne. Often, adolescents are the ones who suffer most from acne, because acne appears at a time when peer pressure is already present.
Testosterone is being touted as the hormone in the human body that is responsible for the appearance of adolescent acne. Testosterone is a primarily male hormone that is responsible for the manifestation of secondary sexual characteristics, such as facial hair, axial or armpit hair and public hair. At a time when these changes are appearing almost simultaneously on the adolescent body, often acne accompanies the wondrous and timely changes.
There is no clear pattern of how and when the acne will appear, in what degree, and for how long. Some people get their acne right after they turn 12 or 13, while some have clear, unblemished faces until they reach their 20s. Acne itself is very unpredictable. Again, conditions must present themselves first before acne can appear. Unfortunately, the conditions vary from person to person, so specific steps cannot really be prescribed truthfully.
Anatomy of Acne & Its Prevention
As you might have noticed already, the human face is always occupied by small white or yellow and sometimes black spots. These are normal symptoms of black heads or white heads. These are actually small accumulations of dirt from the environment and natural oil secretions from the skin. And this is where it all begins.
One rule of thumb into treating your own acne is by being very observant. If suddenly your acne appears after a particular change in your environment, for example, if you have been exposed to more wind or more sun in the past few days, and the acne appears afterward, then you can be sure that the added exposure played a part in your problem.
The logical thing to do now is to of course, avoid those things that are making your skin condition worse. For example, if you use different kinds of makeup and creams and moisturizers on a daily basis, and your acne suddenly pops out, then you have to do something about your use of makeup.
The reason for this precaution is linked with the general nature of acne. Acne is a broad term to connote all the small bumps and lesions that appear on the face. Some of these lesions are quite tender, and already have skin breaks on them. If you apply makeup or facial cream that has oil content to these tender lesions, you might aggravate condition. A solution to this is to choose makeup and other products that are declared oil-free, if you still want to keep using makeup even when you have acne.
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Acne Guide: A Detailed Outline On Back Acne Cure
Acne can trouble you in many forms. And the most common form of attack is facial acne. But there have been cases where people have suffered due to acne on their back too. This form of acne is a less visible form. Back acne is more painful than acne on any other body part. Therefore, it becomes all the more important for you to get rid of those ugly, painful boils as soon as possible.
There are several reasons for outbursts of acne on the back. The common cause is the hyper activity of the oil glands that are present all over your body. Oil glands are known to be very active around your facial area. Your back has a few numbers of oil glands as compared to your face. But there are times when these few oil glands become over-active and start producing excessive oil. Excessive oil produces bacterial activity in the skin, leading to acne. Besides this, when there is excessive oil production, the pores on your skin get clogged. Thus your skin is not able to breathe freely, thus leaving open grounds for acne problem.
The other common reason for acne appearing on the back is the use of clothes that are made of synthetic fibers like nylon and lycra. These clothes are made of such fabrics that do not allow sweat to evaporate easily. Thereby, there is created open breeding grounds for the numerous bacterias that are known to create acne menace. Besides, wearing tight clothes for long durations can also aggravate your back acne problem.
After knowing the causes for back acne, now you must be anxious to know about its treatment processes. But there is one thing that I would like to mention here. Treatment of back acne is not as easy as of facial acne. The reason being, the layer of skin covering your back is very thick.
But like the said, nothing is impossible. There are several ways by which you can treat you back acne. You have two broad options at your disposable. Either use a treatment that is chemical-based or natural one. Both treatments are very effective, in their own way.
The best and the easiest way to fight back acne is to bath regularly and try to keep your back clean, as much as possible. Besides this, whenever you plan a shower, try to use bathing products that have a good amount of Salicylic Acid or Glycolic Acid. A regular and good exfoliation regime is also very helpful in treating acute acne problems.
Once you are over with your shower, take a soft, clean towel and gently wipe your body. Remember not to rub your body parts vigorously, especially those body parts that are afflicted with acne. The reason to this is that, rubbing will remove the dead skin accumulated on the body, thus clogging the pores of your skin.
Now on your dry back, apply topical ointments evenly. It is recommended that the topical ointments that you intend to use should have Benzoyl Peroxide content in them. Benzoyl Peroxide acts an antibiotic thus help you fight back bacterial growth. Now with gentle hands, rub the ointment all over your back and make sure that the medication has been totally absorbed in your back. But remember, over use of such ointments is also not very good for your skin. This can make your skin dry and itchy.
It is always advised that before following any treatment for your back acne, you consult a good dermatologist.
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Types of Acne – Part 2
Acne comes in many forms. Although most commonly found on the face, acne ranges from Mild to Severe and can be located anywhere on the body. Most frequently self-treated, mild cases are manageable. However, severe cases should be treated under the supervision of health professionals, such as dermatologists.
Acne Vulgaris, translated as common acne, is the most common type of acne. It is better known as blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules or cysts.
Blackheads – Occur in partially blocked pores. Dead skin cells, bacteria, and sebum (the substance that causes oily skin) drain to the surface of the skin; the pigments are exposed to air, which causes the black color. Blackheads can take a long time to clear up.
Whiteheads Contained beneath the surface of the skin, the trapped sebum, dead cells and bacteria are completely blocked in the pores.
Pustules With the appearance of a red circle with a white or yellow center, this form of acne is more often called Pimples or Zits.
Nodules Much larger than other forms of acne, nodules form hard lumps beneath the surface of the skin which can be painful and last for several months. Highly susceptible to scarring, this form of acne is recommended to be treated by a dermatologist.
Cysts Similar to a nodule, this form of acne is filled with pus. Like nodules, cysts can be very painful and lead to scarring if untreated. Cysts should be treated by a dermatologist.
Acne Conglobata More common in males than females, this rare form of acne vulgaris is extremely disfiguring. Large lesions form on the face, chest, back, buttocks, upper arms, and thighs, sometimes accompanied by numerous blackheads. Acne Conglobata can cause severe psychological as well as physical suffering, damage to the skin and permanent scarring. This condition can last several years.
Acne Fulminans A sudden case of Acne Conglobata, with a fever and aching joints. Generally treated with oral steroids.
Gram-Negative Folliculitis A bacterial infection which causes pustules and cysts, this form of acne may be caused by long-term treatment of acne with antibiotics.
Pyoderma Faciale Affecting only females usually between ages 20 and 40, most commonly in women who never had acne before, this type of acne consists of painful pustules, cysts and nodules on the face. Permanent scarring is potential. Generally clears up within a year.
Acne Rosacea Notably affecting people over the age of 30, Acne Rosacea causes a red rash on the face. Pimples or other skin blemishes may also be present. This should not be confused with Acne Vulgaris as there are two different treatments for these types. Acne Rosacea occurs more frequently in women than men but is more severe in the men it affects.