What Exactly Is The Skin Condition Known As Acne?

Most people in their life will at one point, struggle with acne. Some people get very small outbreaks, that don't last very long, while others seem to be plagued for years and years. It usually starts during puberty, and for some can last for several years. Some people are even doomed to suffer from it for are large percentage of their adult life. While not dangerous, compared to other conditions, acne can have a devastating effect on self esteem and self confidence. It can help, therefore, to understand exactly what it is.

Acne is what happens when one or more (usually more, a lot more) pilosebaceous units goes haywire. What happens inside these little units, of which you have millions of, is responsible for those unsightly blackheads and whiteheads you may very well have right now. Acne hits most people during puberty, and can last up to the early to mid twenties, and the thirties and forties in some cases. So far, there hasn't been any way to determine the length of an acne outbreak.

What exactly is going on inside these small units? Well, lets take a look at the structure. The basic components of this unit is a hair follicle, a pore, and a couple of oil producing glands called sebaceous glands. These sebaceous glands must always be making sebum, or skin oil, in order to keep your skin from getting to dry and damaged.

Because our bodies are designed very efficiently, often we have one element performing two or more different functions, and this little unit is no different. This small little "machine" produces a hair, or at least has the potential to, as well as the oil that keeps your skin clean. When everything is functioning normally, there's no problem.

The problems begin when the top of the pore becomes clogged for some reason. There are many potential causes for this, which will be the subject of another article. But when this pore gets clogged, that's when you can get acne. The sebaceous glands continue to produce oil, which of course causes a massive increase in pressure inside this tiny little unit on your skin. This can lead to pustules or nodules being formed as well as inflammation. This just means that there is pressure inside this little unit, and there is no where to go.

The secret is to not only get rid of it once you get it, but to also figure out how to keep from getting it in the first place. This can sometimes be the same solution, as in skin care products or other topical creams and remedies. Other solutions include changes in diet, and different stress management programs, and even hormone therapy.

Article Source: Articles World

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