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As far as skin diseases go, acne is the most common. It generally affects young people in their teens & early twenties, but may affect some people throughout their life. Acne presents as an inflammation of the skin with a range of symptoms. Oily skin, redness & swelling are the most common symptoms; however legions from acne include pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, nodular acne, & cystic acne.

Within the skin are oil glands, also known as sebaceous glands, which secrete sebum. Sebum is the oily substance that makes the skin look greasy & hair look shiny. It prevents the skin & hair from drying out & also inhibits bacterial growth on the surface of the skin.

With acne the sebaceous glands become clogged by dead skin cells & agglomerated sebum. As more sebum is secreted it accumulates within the gland, forming a nodule. These nodules are very prone to infection from bacteria & the immune system attacks them, leaving pus. An inflamed bump or pimple can then be seen on the surface of the skin.

Acne isn’t considered lethal, but its effects can significantly decrease the quality of one’s life. Permanent scarring isn’t uncommon & more than a ¼ of the people who have acne will be left with these marks. Because acne commonly appears on the face, neck, back & chest, it’s often hard to hide from others. So… Social fear & self esteem problems are very common for people with sever acne. However, even people with only mild & moderate acne experience some disapproval by their peers. There is more. Thus preventing & treating acne should be a recurring ritual, much like oral hygiene.

There are a variety of over the counter treatments to deal with acne. Here are some of the more popular:

- Salicylic Acid & Glycolic Acid ? These acids effectively get rid of the top most layer of dead skin cells, exfoliating the skin & unblocking pores. So… Some visible flaking of the skin isn’t uncommon with these treatments

- Benzoyl Peroxide ? This chemical is an oxidizer. It helps kill the bacteria on the surface of the skin & dissolve the dead skin cells blocking pores. It regularly dries out the skin & can cause irritation.

- Red & Blue Phototherapy ? New light devices are available that shine specific frequencies of light on the skin. These red & blue frequencies of light are very effective at destroying the bacteria inside of pimples, effectively stopping acne. Unlike the sun or UV lights it doesn’t cause the skin to produce more oils & consequently it doesn’t cause more acne in the long term.

Staying on top of acne requires a plan involving smart lifestyle choices & regular maintenance of the skin.

Michael Bass is a health care professional & interested in skin care. He runs an informational site about the causes of acne, acne treatments, & acne removal. His site offers useful advice about the most up to date acne care treatments. If you’re battling acne yourself or would just like to learn more check out EscapeAcne.com.

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