Acne - get shot of spots

Acne - get shot of spotsDr Rob HicksMost people suffer with spots in their teenage years, but for some people acne can cause some physical and emotional problems.In this articleWhat is acne?Acne tends to develop in stagesMyths about acneHow's acne treated?When spots disappear as quickly as they came, you could say it's a normal part of puberty. However, for many people this common skin problem causes serious problems.What is acne?The name acne comes from the Greek word 'acme', which means the prime of life, because it's a common problem in younger years.Acne affects young adults the most, but it can also be a problem for older people. It usually starts in puberty when skin glands produce excess grease. Dead skin cells and grease block pores on the face, upper arms, upper back and chest.Women are generally affected at a younger ageWomen are generally affected at a younger age, the peak severity being between ages 17 and 18, while men peak between 19 and 20 years old. Acne appears most frequently on the face, but can also appear on the neck, behind the ears, on the chest and in the groin.Most people experience acne. Usually it's a mild condition, but for 15 per cent of people it's severe. Acne affects both sexes equally, however it's often worse in males.Helping yourselfDon't squeeze spots - it makes things worseBe patient - sometimes improvement with treatment takes a whileUse medicines as advised by your doctorNever be frightened to ask for helpAcne tends to develop in stagesFor many people, a major life event triggers acne. During adolescence this may be exams, a new boyfriend or girlfriend, or simply the bumpy ride through puberty. Big events happen throughout our lives, which explains why acne can appear for the first time in adults.Normal skin has thousands of tiny hair follicles. Each has a sebaceous gland that produces an oily substance, sebum.First, an unusual reaction of the sebaceous glands in the skin to the male hormone testosterone causes them to make more sebum. Acne tends to affect men more than women because they have more testosterone.This overproduction of sebum - together with dead skin cells - blocks hair follicles. The characteristic "blackhead" appearance is caused by the presence of skin pigment, not dirt. Whiteheads are more common and are likely to become inflamed because the grease and bacteria that collects can't escape.If the blocked hair follicle ruptures, more inflammation occurs. This can lead to nodules and cysts forming, which leave scars as they disappear.Myths about acneIn scientific terms it's a myth that diet or particular foods (for example, chocolate, fatty or fried foods) make acne worse, but some people do identify specific foods they believe makes their acne worse.It's a myth that people with acne don't get embarrassed about it, because they do. Studies show that people with acne also feel ashamed, lack confidence and even become depressed.Common triggers for acneexamsnew relationshipsbefore a periodpregnancystresssome cosmeticssome medicinesHow's acne treated?The goal with treatment is to prevent skin scarring, to prevent psychological distress and to shorten the time someone has to put up with acne. The treatments used depend on how severe the acne is.Healthy skin needs a good intake of vitamins A, C and E, zinc and at least eight glasses of water a day. All of us should do this whether or not we have spots.Mild acneIf someone only has a few spots occasionally, a medicated lotion or face wash that removes excess grease and cleanses the skin is all that's needed.Gels, creams and lotions containing benzoyl peroxide are also helpful because its antibacterial and skin peeling action helps to reduce inflammation and unblock skin pores.Many complementary treatments that claim to treat acne work for some people but not for others. Some of the more reliable ones are a facial gel mask of colloidal silicic acid (which should be used twice a day to remove excess grease and dead skin cells) and tea-tree oil gel, which has antiseptic and antibacterial effects.Avoid squeezing spots because it can push infection and inflammatory chemicals deeper into the skin, making cysts and permanent scars more likely.Moderate acneWhere spots are numerous and resistant to these simple measures, then a course of antibiotics to reduce the number of bacteria and the inflammation is used. It sometimes takes up to eight weeks for any noticeable improvement and the treatment is usually needed for at least six months.Severe acneSome people with severe scarring acne need powerful medicines supplied by hospital skin specialists to control acne, and laser therapy to reduce the scars