Acne (or acne vulgaris) is a dermatological disease which affects the skin’s sebaceous glands and hair follicles and which appears mainly on the face and back. Affecting teenagers for the most part, it also affects women of childbearing age, though some subjects can have acne well into their forties. It can appear in various forms, from tiny, subcutaneous whiteheads to the painful, abscess-like and puss-filled growths known as cysts. Acne is set off when the pores in the skin touch the underlying glands via a follicle (usually a hair follicle). When the follicle is clogged with dead skin cells together with the presence of sebum, it forms a mass which promotes bacterial growth. The bacterium, which is called proprionibacterium acnes and is naturally found on the skin, once trapped in pores or hair follicles at the same time as dead skin cells provokes the formation of acne’s most common appearance a pimple.
Though not life threatening, the effects of acne in its worst forms can be devastating from aesthetic and psychological standpoints. Even if it can be attributed to various factors, the most common cause of acne is due to hormonal imbalance, or rather when there is an excessive production of androgen or masculine hormones. Other causes can be tied to genetics, allergic reaction to certain medication or oily makeup, which tends to have condemogenic effects.
The treatment of acne varies according to the severity of the case. If in a mild form a dermatologist will normally prescribe topical products such as retinoids, antimicrobials like benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid or azelaic acid. For moderate cases, a course of oral antibiotics is prescribed together with retinoids and also benzoyl peroxide if deemed necessary. In the case of severe acne where skin is does not respond to treatment, a retinoid taken orally called isotretinoin is prescribed. After treatment of an extremely severe case, the patient may opt for a chemical peel in order to reduce the demoralizing effects of acne scarring. For all cases, the use of zinc-based cleansers and astringents is recommended for washing during treatment.
If however the acne is not so severe or a pharmaceutical solution is not desired, an alternative might be found in holistic treatments. For example, the application of tea tree oil, which has cleansing and calming properties, helps to eliminate bacteria and soothe skin inflammation. Other natural remedies used for treating acne are aloe vera (applied topically in gel form; it has astringent and antibacterial properties), calendula (in cream form), which promotes skin healing, and witch hazel, which is an exceptional natural astringent.
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Treating acne can be a problem but one thing that worked for me was acnezine.
Acne flare-ups are things like hormones, androgen and testosterone these are the big culprits. Use skin products do your part.