What Is Acne?
Perhaps you’ve been plagued with it ever since you hit puberty. Maybe you only develop a few here and there, or perhaps you’ve got a severe case that warrants the attention of a doctor. However, while you may have spent hours in front of the mirror examining your acne, have you ever stopped to wonder what exactly acne is and how it’s formed?
Acne is one of the most common skin disorders out there, but the impact – both physically and emotionally – is uniquely profound; after all, there’s a reason why Americans spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year on products that are touted as acne cure-alls. From teenagers plagued by raging hormones to middle-aged adults with stubborn spots, nearly 100% of the population has encountered acne in some form or another. Acne comes in all shapes and sizes, taking the form of the occasional whitehead or even developing into a severe case of deeply rooted cysts.
Acne is caused by clogged skin pores and excess production of oil (no matter how clean your skin is) A more scientific explanation of ”clogged pores” is the obstruction of the pilosebaceous unit, which is comprised of a sebaceous gland and hair follicle that’s located in the middle layer of your skin. You can find these units everywhere in your body except for your palms and feet, (which is why acne doesn’t develop in these specific areas). Conversely, pilosebaceous units are more numerous on the face, chest, shoulders, and back, which is why these parts of the body are more commonly plagued with acne. Additionally, these parts of our bodies tend to be more exposed to dirt, makeup and other elements that can also clog the delicate pores of our skin.
The overproduction of sebum, a type of oil that the sebaceous glands produce in response to androgen fluctuations, is actually the main cause of acne. Although normally found in both sexes, androgens are primarily male hormones. This explains why males are more likely to suffer from more severe forms of acne than females. When sebum accumulates in the pores, lesions then erupt, taking the form of whiteheads and blackheads.
Although it may seem like acne can literally crop up overnight, acne actually takes much longer to finally appear on the skin’s surface – up to three weeks. This is because lesions start in the middle layer of the skin and must work their way up to break the surface layer.
Keeping your face clean can minimize your exposure to pore-clogging dirt and oil. Treatment for stubborn skin lesions should be pursued with the help of a doctor or dermatologist.