Part 2 in our series regarding Acne.

Puberty is that stage in life when you are commonly hit by various life conflicts and in order to better equip yourself and overcome these conflicts you must understand how such problems arise. One common aspect that has to be dealt with is the physical change that occurs during this stage. Being a greenhorn when it comes to these changes you sometimes become very terrified and stressed. Having a better understanding of what’s happening can be your greatest ally in each scenario. Acne is one of the most feared physiological effects of puberty which actually worsens when adolescence is reached. So with this let’s find out what brings about such condition.

Acne or pimples can be seen in common areas of the body such as the face, chest, back, shoulders, and even the upper arms. So where does these pesky critters come from? The problem starts when clogging happens. Skin pores are being clogged by bacteria, wasted or dead skin cells, and of course trapped oil. There are glands called sebaceous glands which are just beneath the skin’s surface. These glands are responsible for the secretion of sebum which acts by keeping the skin’s moisture level up to par. Now what happens during puberty is that there is a greater activity of male hormones known as androgens triggering these glands to have overproduction of sebum. Whiteheads and blackheads then enter the scene. This villainous pair is collectively identified as comedones which normally progresses during mild acne cases. Their formation blocks skin pores due to the mixing of excess sebum, wasted skin cells, dirt, and bacteria.

Now for moderate and severe inflammatory acne cases, things become very down and dirty. There are sebaceous follicles within your skin wherein sebaceous glands and hair follicles come together. When these so-called follicles get pretty clogged, Propioni-bacterium acnes do their worst and take advantage. These are bacteria harboring on the skin. Pimple or acne formation is brought about by the weakening of the compromised follicle. Due to its weakening, it bursts leading to the secretion of sebum, white blood cells, and bacteria on nearby tissues. Afterwards, new skins cells come into the picture to kick out dead and damaged cell. Unfortunately this brings about scarring. Superficially inflamed pimples are called papules while those found deep beneath the skin’s surface are known as pustules. Acnes enclosed in sac-like formations are called cysts while nodules come in hard swellings. These two are the most severe forms of acnes.

There is no definite cause found to be associated with acne formation although there are a bunch of risk factors commonly tagged along. As mentioned earlier, it is during puberty that acne begins to strike. This is because of the hormonal variations in this stage. Boys have more tendency than girls due to greater levels of androgen. Hormonal diseases and disorders can also contribute. Family history can also be noted as having a greater effect on the chances of having acne. Conditions such as menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause can heighten up chances of acne formation.

Physical care and hygiene is also another factor. Pricking and pinching of pimples can worsen the condition. Allergies to different cosmetic products and frequent exposure to dust, dirt, and pollution can also be considered. Finally the most common culprit of this case is stress.
Upon knowing these acne basics you can now face these critters anytime, anywhere.