Acne Explained

Acne is a very common condition of the skin which generally affects young people between the age 0f 12 and 25, blackheads, white heads, greasy skin and scars are all common with acne.
It is not just the skin on the face that is prone to this condition the back, neck, chest and arms can also be prone to acne and the severity of it will vary greatly from person to person.
Acne is not caused by eating too much chocolate or by dirt it is over activity of the sebaceous glands that produce oily substances onto the skin that is the cause. Stress is a well known for making acne worse as can picking and squeezing of any spots on the skin and in women the condition can be aggravated by taking the contraceptive pill.
Diagnosis and treatment of acne
Acne is primarily diagnosed by the distribution of the spots on the body and the severity and there are several different types of acne. There is no given cure for acne but rather medications that may help in relieving and improving it, acne can cause severe emotional distress in severe cases, the person may stay in doors and get a complex about the way they look and help should be sought for any anxiety or worry it is causing the recipient.
There are several over the counter medications on offer at the chemist which may bring some relief for mild acne, these will usually contain some type of antibacterial agent such as benzyl peroxide commonly named Oxy and Clearasil. It is important to know that people with overall skin allergies can have a reaction to such medications as the peroxide in them can cause reddening of the skin, this usually settles down with use but occasionally can make the symptoms worse.
Some patience is needed as the treatment will generally take weeks perhaps even months before any improvement is seen. If the home treatment is making no improvement on your acne after two months or in the case of severe acne a doctor?s advice should be taken as some cases of acne need prescription medication.
Medicine your Doctor may prescribe
There are a range of options available from your doctor these will include topical treatments such as creams or lotions, which will work by drying the skin and encouraging the outer layer of skin to fall off.
Oral treatments in the form of tablets may be given in the case of severe acne in which case your doctor may generally prescribe an antibiotic which you will probably need to take for about three months or longer before you begin to see any benefit. Cleanliness of the skin is essential in helping clear your skin of acne and to rid the pores of the excess oil which generally builds up.