<h1>The Scientific Facts About Acne.. Do You Know Them?</h1>

Author: Chris Sokraz
Acne vulgaris is a common disease, which effects teenagers primarily and has, as the characteristic lesions, the open comedo (blackhead) and closed comedo. Most patients have only mild acne and they never need a physician. Although they may spend large sums of money on OTC acne aids. In severe forms acne may lead to expensive scaring. Even the milder form may cause considerable psychological distress for the patients.
Epidemiology:
Acne vulgaris is the most common disorder of the skin in the US. It affects over 17 million patients annually and accounts for 10 percent of all patient-visits to a primary care physician. Almost every one has some acne during the adolescent year. It may continue in some people until 30-40 year of age or appear post menopausal in women. Administration of certain drugs like corticosteroids, halogens, androgens, lithium and anticonvulsants may also result in acne.
Acne also may be associated with certain occupations in which pars, oil and chlorinated hydrocarbons come in contact with the skin. The applications of certain cosmetics including moisturizers are associated with acne.
Etiology: The etiology of acne is multi factorial. Hereditary plays a role. Androgenic simulation of sebum production by sebaceous glands at puberty is important, but the main factor in precipitating. Acne appears to be occlusion of the ducts draining the sebaceous glands. There is no scientific evidence that diet commonly plays a role in the development of acne or not. Anxiety, fatigue, heat and humidity probably do aggravate acne.
Pathology: The black color of open or closed sebum is the result of oxidation of the pigment granules in shed cells in the plug. When the epidermis covers the opening of the sebaceous gland so that oxidation cannot occur, the lesion is known as whitehead. Comedones are not inflamed. When they become inflamed the other lesions are formed which include papules, pustules, and nodular cystic lesions.
Acne most commonly occurs on the oily parts of the skin; primarily on the face, neck, ears and the upper trunk. Healed acne may result in atrophic, pitted or hypertrophic scars.
Pathophysiology: Androgens cause sebaceous glands to mature and to produce large quantities of sebum. Both males and females produce androgens. These sebaceous glands respond to very low levels of androgens. Obstruction of flow of sebum from the sebaceous gland to the surface of the skin results in comedo. Increased amount of sebum, increased viscosity of sebum, and keratin debris contribute to this obstruction. Chronic obstruction of the sebaceous gland leads to the follicular obstruction. Sebum is composed of triglycerides, cholesterol, waxes and minute quantities of free fatty acids. Normally sebum is not inflammatory. However bacterial flora in the follicle hydrolyses the triglycerides into free fatty acids which are extremely irritating and are inflammatory. The inflamed follicle may rupture and spread the process to the adjacent dermis, causing increased inflammations via a foreign body reaction.
Symptoms: The comedones and the other lesions, including scars, are the physical abnormalities of the acne. The course is usually chronic throughout the adolescence until hormonal balance is achieved usually in the early 20s. Occasional flares are common during the course. The objective of treatment is to clear the lesions, prevent scaring, and minimize psychological distress.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/acne-articles/the-scientific-facts-about-acne-do-you-know-them-3852358.html
About the Author
I had severe acne for many years. There are some things I wish I knew earlier. Find them out here: http://acne-cure-now.blogspot.com/