Stop! Don't Prick That Pimple
by Michael Russell
Acne vulgaris is a common type of acne and occurs between the ages of 12 and 18 wherein the skin becomes very oily and blemishes start to appear. Blackheads are usually the first lesions to appear. These block the oil's normal flow. Sometimes blackheads develop into papules and become inflamed. Inflamed papules sometimes become infected with bacteria in the skin's surface. Several lesions may join together in severe cases and form a cyst. Persistent lesions more often delve deeper into the skin causing permanent scarring.
Severe acne together with the accompanying permanent scarring of lesions often causes an adolescent to shy away from people and become introverted. Although most young people recover from acne by the age of 16, others continue to suffer from the disorder and in some cases, this becomes progressively more severe.
Endocrine imbalance is the basic cause of acne vulgaris. This is supported by the following facts:
1. Acne vulgaris occurs mainly during adolescence.
2. Acne vulgaris tends to become severe during a girl's menstruation.
3. The tendency of acne vulgaris to end spontaneously.
4. Estrogen, the female sex hormone and androgen the male sex hormone are activated during adolescence. These cause the increase oil secretion of the sebaceous glands.
Although endocrine imbalance is the main cause of acne, there are contributing factors that aggravate the condition. These can include poor nutrition, irregular elimination habits, fatigue, poor skin hygiene and emotional upset. Diet plays an important role in some cases of acne. It is even believed that there are certain foods that cause acne flare up. It is beneficial to have a good and balanced diet in order to minimize acne. A balanced diet that contains meat, fish, vegetables, fruits and green salad is advised, while specific foods like chocolate, pies, frankfurters, rich desserts and fried foods should be avoided.
The eruptions of acne lesions are also caused by emotional upset. These are usually seen during examination periods, when preparing for a college interview or when there is tension as a result of dating preparations. Acne eruptions usually worsen during winter season when there is infrequent exposure to sunlight. Lack of exercise also triggers acne flare up. Good hygiene is advised in order to minimize acne flare up. Oily areas and those affected with blemishes should be kept clean at all times because these usually exacerbate acne eruptions when left un-cleaned. A good way to keep the affected areas clean, especially the face is to wash them frequently with antiseptic soap containing hexachlorophene. To reduce the oiliness of the face, you can use an antiseptic lotion that contains alcohol and hexachlorophene. Avoid pricking and squeezing the blackhead and pimples because these will only worsen the condition. An abrasive soap can also be used to peel off dead skin. Using shampoo twice or more a week is also advised to keep the scalp clean.
With proper skin care, good diet and adequate rest, the eruptions of acne vulgaris can be minimized. Acne vulgaris should not keep young people from socializing and doing their usual activities. This is just part of adolescence and hopefully will just go away as they pass the adolescent stage.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to href="http://acne-guides.com/">Acne
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