Acne is a term often used interchangeably with pimples. But acne is more than pimples. Acne is basically a skin condition, disease or disorder of the skin. It can cause blackheads, whiteheads, reddish lesions which we often call pimples, and also bumps with pus which are known as cysts.
Acne occurs most commonly in teens right up to the age group of 40s, and sometimes even older. It is not really an age-related disease, though teenagers are the most common targets. Furthermore, acne affects both male and female alike. However, women tend to get more acne than men, due to the changes of hormone during ovulation, menstruation and childbirth.
Where can Acne Be Found?
Acne is most commonly seen on the face, chest and back. However, it can appear where there is skin. Often, acne also occurs at the scalp area. On the face, nose, forehead and cheek are the most commonly affected area.
What causes acne in the first place?
As mentioned above, acne is a skin disorder. This disorder is caused by various factors, including hormones and other substances, affecting the oil glands, known as sebaceous glands, underneath the skin and also affecting the part of the skin hair known as hair follicle.
Skin is the largest organ of the human body. One of the main functions of the skin is to rid the body of toxins. Toxin in the skin is one of the major culprit of acne. The sebaceous gland of the skin also produces what is known as sebum. When there is too much production of sebum, it can plug the hair follicle. Dead cells on the skin can also plug the follicle. When these happens, the skin can become affected by bacteria. The walls of the pore on the skin can also be broken, enabling sebum, dead cells and bacteria to get under the skin. All these can lead to the formation of acne. It is also known that stress and anxiety can cause acne.
Acne is no doubt a skin condition that can cause a lot of pain when it gets very severe. However, acne is seldom a serious medical condition and it is definitely not fatal. The physiological upset caused by acne is probably not too severe compared to the emotional and psychological effect of this disorder. Apparently, acne affects the face most often and hence often results in unpleasant appearance, especially if the acne causes scar on the face.
Though acne will not cause fatal illness in a person, one should seek treatment as early as possible.