About Natural Acne Treatment
Acne: An inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles of the skin that is marked by the eruption of pimples or pustules, especially on the face.
What is Acne?
Types of Acne
Causes of Acne
Acne and homeopathy
People of all races and ages get acne. It is most common in adolescents and young adults. An estimated 80 percent of all people between the ages of 11 and 30 have acne outbreaks at some point. For most people, acne tends to go away by the time they reach their thirties; however, some people in their forties and fifties continue to have this skin problem.
What is Acne?
Acne is a disorder resulting from the action of hormones and other substances on the skin's oil glands (sebaceous glands) and hair follicles. These factors lead to plugged pores and outbreaks of lesions commonly called pimples or zits. Acne lesions usually occur on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Although acne is usually not a serious health threat, it can be a source of significant emotional distress. Severe acne can lead to permanent scarring.
Acne is a disease of the pilosebaceous units (PSUs). Found over most of the body, PSUs consist of a sebaceous gland connected to a canal, called a follicle, that contains a fine hair. These units are most numerous on the face, upper back, and chest. The sebaceous glands make an oily substance called sebum that normally empties onto the skin surface through the opening of the follicle, commonly called a pore. Cells called keratinocytes line the follicle.
The hair, sebum, and keratinocytes that fill the narrow follicle may produce a plug, which is an early sign of acne. The plug prevents sebum from reaching the surface of the skin through a pore. The mixture of oil and cells allows bacteria Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) that normally live on the skin to grow in the plugged follicles. These bacteria produce chemicals and enzymes and attract white blood cells that cause inflammation. (Inflammation is a characteristic reaction of tissues to disease or injury and is marked by four signs: swelling, redness, heat, and pain.) When the wall of the plugged follicle breaks down, it spills everything into the nearby skin - sebum, shed skin cells, and bacteria - leading to lesions or pimples.
Types of Acne
Acne Vulgaris is the most common form of acne. Symptoms of this type of acne frequently include a variety of lesions. The basic acne lesion, called the comedo, is simply an enlarged and plugged hair follicle. If the plugged follicle, or comedo, stays beneath the skin, it is called a closed comedo and produces a white bump popularly known as a "whitehead". A comedo that reaches the surface of the skin and opens up is called an open comedo or "blackhead" because it looks black on the skin's surface. This black discoloration is due to changes in sebum as it is exposed to air. It is not due to dirt. Both whiteheads and blackheads may stay in the skin for a long time.
Mild to moderate symptoms of acne vulgaris might also include the following lesion types:
- Papules are inflamed, red, tender bumps with no head. Do not squeeze a papule. It will do no good, and may exacerbate scarring.
- Pustules (pimples) might be described as inflamed whiteheads, and appear as a red circles with white or yellow center. Pustules are often commonly referred to as "zits."
Severe acne vulgaris includes the following symptoms:
- Nodules that are large, painful, solid lesions lodged deep within the skin. Never attempt to squeeze such a lesion.
- Cysts are similar to nodules but are filled with pus, and are typically 5mm or more across in size. Again, squeezing such a lesion may cause a deeper infection and more painful inflammation. So please try not to squeeze.
Causes of Acne
The precise cause of adult and teen acne is unknown. However, many healing systems attribute acne to a complex mix of some or all of the following factors:
- An increase in hormones called androgens (male sex hormones). These increase in both boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy, menopause, and starting or stopping birth control pills can also cause acne.
- Heredity or genetics. Researchers believe that the tendency to develop acne can be inherited from parents. For example, studies have shown that many school-age boys with acne have a family history of the disorder.
- Certain drugs, including androgens and lithium, are known to cause acne.
- Greasy cosmetics, because of their chemical compounds, may alter the cells of the follicles and make them stick together, producing a plug which results in acne.. In fact, acne cosmetica, or acne caused by cosmetics, is a common mild form of acne. This type of acne is triggered by topical factors and not the complex processes that take place inside the body. (Even people who are not susceptible to acne sometimes suffer from acne cosmetica.)
If prone to acne, you can expect a flare-up due to:
- Changing hormone levels in adolescent girls and adult women 2 to 7 days before onset of menses
- Grease encountered in the work environment (for example, a kitchen with fry vats)
- Pressure from sports helmets or equipment, backpacks, tight collars, or tight sports uniforms
- Environmental irritants, such as pollution and high humidity
- Squeezing or picking at blemishes
- Hard scrubbing of the skin
- Stress
Acne and homeopathy
Homeopathy can be very effective in treating acne, as well as safe and easy-to-use, with minimal risk of side effects. There is an increasing body of scientific evidence which confirms the efficacy of homeopathic medicines, and growing number of people find relief from acne symptoms using this natural form of treatment.
From the homeopathic point of view, using chemical exfoliants such as salicylic acid or antibiotics to deal with acne simply masks the symptoms and can prevent the body from healing. Homeopathic Anti-Acne Formula from Simple Medicinals includes key remedies to help stimulate the body's natural response to acne. However, for best results, a homeopathic constitutional remedy must be prescribed -- one that takes into consideration all of your symptoms, mental and emotional as well as physical.
Bibliography
"acne." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Answers.com 28 Mar. 2006. www.answers.com/topic/acne
