Acne a personal
view
The onset of acne is usually
around puberty but may also start in adulthood. About 85% of teenagers develop acne, 15% of
which may be moderate to severe.
Acne is not
infectious and the exact cause is not known but there are many treatments which
are effective, but acne is slow to respond so
Don’t Panic!
The mechanisms by which this inflammatory skin disease works are as follows. Due to hormonal activity (especially during adolescence) excessive sebum (conditioning oil) is secreted from the skins sebaceous glands. Skin cells rapidly divide and can block the opening of hair follicles. The resulting build up of sebum behind the blockage produces a blackhead or comedone. The blackness is due to dissolved melanin (skin pigment) and not dirt. These open blackheads do not usually go on to form spots. The closed white head will do so. At puberty changes in skin acid levels encourage the growth of bacterium, propionibacterium acnes, staphylococcus aureus and pityrosporum ovale. Bacteria can also become trapped in the hair follicles to produce pustules which are superficial microabscesses and papules which are raised pimples caused by a deeper infection. Hereditary factors may play a role.
Acne Conglobata is a severe long term, painful disease. It is characterized by large inflammatory cysts and nodules on the face an upper trunk.
Acne can be caused by occupational factors – exposure to oils, tars and halogenated hydrocarbons. Drugs such as corticosteroids (topical and systemic), progestogens, and anabolic steroids. Cheap greasy cosmetics, lotions and moisturizers are to be avoided, use non-comedogenic.
Doctors who often dismiss the condition as trivial underestimate the psychological effects of acne. Stress and anxiety may be a causative factor in acne as in other skin disorders and having a condition that rules your life described as trivial is stressful indeed!
It will come as no surprise to acne sufferers that studies have shown intolerance and bigotry against acne in the work place is common.
A gradual lowering of
self-esteem and self-confidence can make relationships, gaining employment, or
any social activity very difficult.
Even going to the Doctor to discuss this acutely
embarrassing condition may be a major hurdle to overcome.
Over 50% of sufferers report people making nasty remarks or fun of them, often in an offhand way, as though it is of no importance, even in the press people with skin complaints are talked about in a derisory and scornful manner.
Well I’d like to get hold of the #~**!”!* and ~#!”** them till their #~*!**! Fell off.
Ah sorry I digress!!!
If you are feeling down over your acne please remember depression is a serious illness affecting 1 in 20 of the population at anyone time. If your condition is making you deeply unhappy, fatigued, tearful, losing sleep, or you have lost your appetite then Please see your Doctor and tell him/her what affect your condition is having on you.
Remember you may need to try
different treatments to see which is best for you and it may take
time.
But you will beat it damn you!!!
You are not alone there are
thousands of people
out there who are feeling exactly as you are now.
Acne
Fulminans
A rare form of extremely severe cystic acne occurring in teenage boys, characterised by the presence of highly inflammatory nodules and plaques that undergo suppurative degeneration leaving ulcerations, fever, weight loss, anaemia, leukocytosis, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and polyarthritis.
Why not write to me at
And I’ll tell them how you feel.
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when you see your Doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
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