Many people struggle with acne all over the world today. The acne might be in the form of whiteheads, which are closed pores, or blackheads, which are pores that are open and plugged. Another form of acne are nodules that are large solid bumps that form beneath the skin; if these lumps have pus they are called cystic lesions.
Having acne, scarring, or hyperpigmentation in Glen Allen can lower your confidence in your physical appearance. If you are struggling with such a problem, you can seek medical attention from a dermatologist who will take your medical history and do a physical examination to determine the primary cause of your condition. Treatment will then be individualized depending on the severity of your condition and the type of acne that you have.
What Causes Acne?
Four factors mainly cause acne. These factors are; producing excess oil (sebum) in your skin, clogging your hair follicles by the excess oil and other dead cells, a bacterial infection on the acne and inflammation. Acne therefore commonly affects the skin areas that have a lot of sebum production like the forehead, chest, upper back, other parts of the face, and the shoulders. Other factors trigger acne that is given below;
1. Hormonal Changes
Hormonal imbalance is one of the factors that trigger the development of acne. Androgens that are found in high amounts in boys and lower portions in girls play a role in acne. The androgenic hormones stimulate the glands that produce sebum to enlarge. These large cells then produce a lot of sebum which clogs the hair follicles, causing acne. Women who have hormonal changes due to pregnancy and use of oral contraceptives are also at risk of getting acne.
2. Medications
There are some medications that increase your chance of having acne. These medications include corticosteroids and lithium, which is a drug that is used to treat mania. People who are put on synthetic testosterone are also at risk of getting acne. However, it is not everyone who uses these medications that gets acne because other factors also play a part in the causation of acne.
3. Family history
You are at a higher risk of getting acne if you have first-degree family members like parents or siblings who also have acne. It is not a guarantee to get acne if you have family members with acne, especially if the acne is due to non-genetic factors like medications.
Other risk factors of acne include having stress which worsens acne that already exists, eating foods that have a lot of carbohydrates, using oily substances on your face, going through puberty, and friction on your skin like from hats or tight collars.
In summary, acne is a common skin condition that occurs due to excess production of skin oil that clogs the hair follicles. The condition is then worsened by bacterial infection and inflammation of the hair follicles. The triggers of acne include having hormonal changes, a family history of acne, some medications like corticosteroids, and being stressed. If you are struggling with acne, you can benefit from medical treatment.
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