Acne vulgaris is derived from a Greek word ‘akme’ to mean ‘point, edge’ in the sense of ‘skin eruption’. It is a common human disease found on the skin and affects mostly the face and upper parts of the chest and back because these parts have a huge population of the sebaceous follicles. It occurs because of change in philosebaceous units, change that require androgen stimulation. Some of the lesions occurring may be inflammatory while others are not. Acne is common during puberty in both males and females because of the increase in the hormone androgen in adolescents. Varying in human beings, the condition may disappear or be carried into adulthood.
Severe cases of this condition may be described as ‘nodulocytic’ and the nodules were called ‘cysts’, and is a severe case of the condition that can appear anywhere where sweat accumulates including buttocks,armpits and groin, and affects the deeper skin. The condition has effects such as reducing self esteem, depression and in severe cases suicide and general social insecurity.
The physical scars are known as ‘icepeaks’, they cause indentation on the skin surface and are darker because the skin tries to heal itself resulting in too much collagen at one spot. It develops as a result of blockage of follicles and also increases in sebum production because of the expansion of the sebaceous glands that occurs with increase in androgen forming a plug of keratin and sebum called ‘micromedo’. The micromedo may enlarge to form an open comedone known as a black head or closed one milia. Both of them are caused by pores being blocked by sebum the skins natural oil and dead skin cells. Other causes of acne may be hormonal like menstrual cycle other linked hormones being testosterone and diphydrotestisterone.
It may occur in adult women because of conditions such as pregnancy, polycystic ovary syndrome and cushigs syndrome which are rare. It may occur at menopause because the body fails to produce ‘ostradiol’ which is the body’s natural anti acne. It may however be genetic where it occurs and runs in the family with a history of the condition. The same has also been associated with psychological conditions such as stress that worsens it.
Diet may also be a great contributor of the same especially foods with milk and chocolate content. There are various methods of diagnosis of acne including: the Cooks Grading Scale, Pills Burry Scale and Leeds Grading Technique.
There are different methods of treatment like the use of Benzol Peroxide, anti-biotic, retinoid, anti-androgen, hormonal treatment, and alpha hydroxyl acid among others. They have different effects including unblocking the pores and suppressing the androgen hormone. Also procedures may be done on the affected person such as ‘dermabrasion’ which is cosmetic meant to remove the damaged skin. Photo therapy is light exposure and is a short term treatment where an efflorescent bulb is created for the purpose. Also photodynamic therapy may be used and is the use of ultra-violet light to control the condition.
Lastly, acne scars from acne may be removed by use of laser surgery and is effective for people with the cystic condition, the boils can be drained this way, and the use of egg oil because it contains anti-oxidant, tee-tree oil and Aloe Vera.
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