The Agony of Acne, The Simple Truth

Acne vulgaris (commonly called Acne) is a skin disease that is caused by a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland. Acne develops as a result of blockages in hair follicles. The formation of a plug of keratin and sebum (a microcomedo) is the earliest sign. The microcomedo may enlarge to form an open comedo (blackhead) or closed comedo (whitehead).

The typical acne lesions are comedones and inflammatory papules, pustules, and nodules. Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, spots, or zits. Some of the large nodules are called "cysts" and can cause scarring.

Simply stated - Acne is the all-encompassing term that refers to blemishes, blackheads, whiteheads and lumps on the skin. It is caused when a hair follicle is blocked from coming out of its hair gland; this causes the infection called Acne. This infection usually starts with pimples or blackheads, but if not controlled it can cause "cysts", which results in redness and may result in scarring. When it is constantly touched or picked at, it will lead to infection and scaring.

While it’s mostly associated with teenagers it is not necessarily restricted to any one age group. People of any age can suffer from acne. However, it is most common during adolescence, affecting more than 85% of teenagers, and frequently continues into adulthood. For most people, acne diminishes over time and tends to disappear. There is, however, no way to predict how long it will take for it to disappear entirely.

Although acne is not a life threatening condition, it can cause great stress. Aside from scarring, its main effects are psychological and reduced self-esteem.

So, what's causing all this clogging and blocking of our pores and our hair follicles? It doesn't seem to be candy. It doesn't seem to be sex, either too much or too little. We know it's not dirty skin.

What is the cause of Acne? - For the most part it's Heredity, but there are other thing like stress, eating habits and certain food containing iodine, sun exposure, makeup, and sometimes birth control pills can cause an outbreak of acne.

As previously stated, those suffering from severe acne put themselves at risk for developing an infection or scaring, so don't pick at your pimples. That is the best way to keep your skin healthy. With that being said, when it comes to seeking relief from acne, there are a large number of over-the-counter products that claim to provide relief. You can always give these over-the-counter products a try, but it is also important to know that you do have a number of different options. These options involve the use of natural remedies and home remedies, which are a safer way to treat acne, as they don’t rely on the use of potentially dangerous chemicals.

There are a large number of home remedies and natural remedies that are becoming very popular, and there are many who are starting to rely on these natural remedies, as they are affordable, easy to implement, and safe.

Lynne Campbell is a channel guide and writer for the website Things-About.com
that provides expert guidance for real people searching the Internet for information, goods, and services. For more information on how to cure Acne go to: acne.things-about.com