Part 5 : Acne
Acne is a chronic condition that transcends age, race, and gend er. Although the cause of acne is unknown, hormones and stress are considered factors, while heredity determines the severity of the condition. Acne occurs when androgen levels rise, enlarging the sebaceous glands and increasing the sebum secreted into the follicular canal. Simultaneously, the lining of cells in the follicular canal obstructs the exit of sebum to the surface, causing it to clump together instead of sloughing off one by one.
SYMPTOMS
- Shiny appearance
- Greasy texture
- Imbalanced pH
- Enlarged pores
- Blackheads and whiteheads
- Papules, pustules, and cysts
- Sudden breakouts for no apparent reason
- Chronic severe breakouts
- Inflammation and soreness
- Scarring
CAUSES
- Genetic predisposition
- Hormone imbalances
- Stress
- Bacterial transfer (i.e., dirty makeup brushes, touching one’s face, poor hygiene)
- Use of comedogenic products
- Nutritional deficiencies (i.e., zinc, vitamins D, A and E)
- Excessive sugar or alcohol consumption
- Sebum overproduction
- Bacteria Cuti bacterium acnes (C.acnes, formerly known as Propionibacterium acnes)
- Oral medications (i.e., steroids, lithium 30)
- Epidermal barrier dysfunction
Oily skin is characterized by overactive sebaceous glands. Although oily skin is more prone to acne breakouts, acne-prone skin can also present as dry skin when harsh or incorrect skincare products have been used to treat the acne breakouts. Breakouts can also appear on the back and chest.
