Effects of Acne to the health of the skin – Known signs and Symptoms

Effects of Acne to the health of the skin

Being the largest body organ and very exposed to the surrounding, the skin is under high risks of various attacks and infections. Acne is just one of the many and it is an inflammatory skin disease affecting the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). In this article, we are going to introduce the overview of the effects of acne to the health of the skin and latter progress with the discussion into the pigmentation disorders and treatment. On completion you will be well informed of all the effects of acne to the health of the skin so that you can take precaution in good time. In the meantime, the most common inflammatory manifestations of acne are pimples. No one would want to down the face infested by pimples and yet pimples are real and they our great concern. To deal with is problem (acne) among other skin health conditions, doctor Dalal Akoury formed AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center where focus is on transforming each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Her practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. This is what doctor Akoury wants to see happen in the lives of people concern of the good health of their skin.

Before we get into the symptoms, it is important to note that acne usually develops in puberty due to the flow of testosterone, which is a necessary (but not sufficient) causative factor in acne. Genetic predisposition is an important determinant of who develops acne and who doesn’t. In many people, acne disappears by early to mid-twenties. Others continue to experience it throughout adult life, even though adult acne tends to be milder. Acne is very common and this is what we want to reduce if not to eradicate. To help us start off, the knowledge of acne is very important, therefore the following are some of the signs and symptoms for acne

Effects of Acne to the health of the skin – Signs and Symptoms

• Comedone /Microcomedone – Comedone is enlarged hair follicle plugged with oil and bacteria and it’s the first and smallest type of lesion. It is also called microcomendone since it is not visible by the naked eye.
• Open comedone /blackhead – This is a plugged follicle that reaches the surface of the skin. Take note that even though dark in appearance, this doesn’t insinuate the presence of dirt. The dark color comes from chemically altered oils and bacteria.
• Closed comedone/whitehead – Ordinarily, this is a clogged follicle which stays beneath the skin. Whiteheads usually appear on the skin as round, white bumps 1-2 mm wide.
• Papules – These are inflamed lesions that appear as small, pink bumps on the skin. They do not contain any visible puss.
• Pustules/pimples – Pustules or pimples are inflamed pus-filled lesions red at the base
• Cysts and nodules – These are large, inflamed, pus-filled lesions that are lodged deep and can drain, causing pain and scarring.
• Scars – As they heal, acne lesions, particularly cysts and nodules and, less frequently, pistules may cause scars of various shape and size.

Effects of Acne to the health of the skin – How acne lesions develop

To understand the effects of acne to the health of the skin better, it will be important that we know how acne lesions are formed. For instance, excessive secretion of oils from the sebaceous glands combines with naturally occurring dead skin cells to block the hair follicles. Sometimes, excessive or altered keratinization (hardening and death of epithelial cells) leads to abnormal shedding of the skin lining of the pores. Oil secretions build up beneath the blocked pore, forming a comedone, which is a perfect anaerobic environment for the growth of the skin bacterium Propionibacterium acnes. Bacterial growth triggers inflammatory response, producing an inflamed lesion, such as a pustule or a nodule. After an inflamed lesion heals, a scar may develop.

Effects of Acne to the health of the skin – Causes of acne

The formation of acne is a joint force of various factors in line with genetics, age and gender. Also applicable is the lifestyle factors like diet or trainings which are also significant though in minimal portions. Some known factors which contribute to the development of acne may include:

• Hormonal levels – Certain hormones, particularly androgens, such as testosterone and dihydro-testosterone (DHT), promote acne. Of importance are not only absolute levels of these hormones but also the levels relative to other hormones, such as estrogens and progestin’s. Acne tends to sparkle up when levels of androgens grow either absolutely or relatively to other hormones. This is one of the main reasons why acne sparkle-ups are linked to puberty and menstrual cycles.
• Excessive sebum production – Excess sebum from overactive sebaceous glands is an important factor in acne. Excess sebum is most often caused by increase in absolute or relative levels of androgenic hormones. Remember that sebum production may also be increased by stress and heat.
• Accumulation of dead skin cells – Excessive shedding of dead skin cells can plug the pore, creating a nutrient-rich anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment conducive to overgrowth of acne-causing bacteria.
• Bacteria – Bacteria are part of the normal micro flora residing in pores. Under normal circumstances, the micro flora is in balance with the environment of the pore and does not cause any problems. However, various factors can tip the balance and cause bacteria to grow excessively. This triggers inflammatory response leading the acne lesions.
• Skin irritation – Skin irritation does not generally cause acne by itself, but may induce a flare-up or exacerbate existing lesions.
• Drugs, pollutants – Certain drugs and environmental pollutants have been linked to acne with varying degree of certainty like anabolic steroids, lithium, and barbiturates. Also remember that exposure to high levels of chlorine compounds, such as chlorinated dioxins, can cause severe, long-lasting acne, known as Chloracne.

Finally now that we have introduced the effects of acne to the health of the skin, I want to request you to stay on the link because we are going to discuss in the next article the treatment of acne. This is very crucial and you don’t want to miss it. In the meantime if you have any skin related problem and you are wondering how to go about it, worry no more. A phone call to doctor Akoury is all you need to schedule for that very important appointment of solutions.

Effects of Acne to the health of the skin – Known signs and Symptoms