what is acne

What is Acne?

According to medical researchers, Acne is a skin condition that occurs when hair dead skin cells and oil from the skin clogs the hair follicles. The sign that an individual is affected by acne is that blackheads, whiteheads and pimples may appear in areas of the body with a high number of oil glands e.g. the face, upper part of the chest and the back. The condition afflicts an estimated six hundred and thirty three million people globally, both male and female. That makes it the 8th most common medical condition in the world. 

 

Acne has been reported since the days of the Pharaohs, indeed around 30BC during the reign of Cleopatra, Acne, which medical personnels also refer to as acne vulgaris, was already in the records. The name acne itself was given to the condition by Greek physician Aetius of Amida who correctly deduced that it affects people in their acme (adolescent) stage of life.

As Aetius correctly deduced, acne commonly occurs in both male and female adolescents, especially those just entering puberty. This is a type of acne called Early Onset Acne. It is estimated that 80-90 percent of teenagers in the Western World suffer from varying degrees of early onset acne. In this case the skin lesions usually clear up by the time the sufferer enters their twenties. The second type of acne that also occurs is Adult Acne. People are known to suffer from this disease may experience breakouts on their skin well into their thirties and even into their forties. 

The common cause of acne, both Early Onset and Adult is accepted to be the increase in hormones, like testosterone and Sebum, which occurs when an individual enters puberty, but there are also studies that show that external factors like genetics, or habits like smoking and drinking, may cause acne. Some studies have even discovered that diets may play a role in the condition.

 Sometimes adult acne may affect people who did not experience it as teenagers, especially women. Adult acne can may be caused by cosmetics, and drug use, e.g. birth control pills. As it happens in adolescent acne, breakouts over the skin may also occur in adults due to hormonal changes, such as during menstruation or pregnancy.

In terms of medical costs, acne vulgaris accounts for more than five million doctor visits a year in the United States alone, and it cost more than two point five billion dollars a year in direct costs on the United Kingdom it accounts for three point five million doctor visits in a year, and the top ten leading acne treatment brands made 352 million dollars in 2015 alone. 

Interestingly research has shown that acne is not a disease peculiar to humans. Research has shown that Dogs, cats and horses can also get acne.

For a long time, there has been a lot of stigma surrounding acne. Before the 20th century, Acne was linked to impure sexual thoughts and masturbation. Thus the people who had it back then were stigmatized and shunned. Also because another sexually transmitted infection, syphilis often cause rashes which Looks similar to acne, the condition was linked to sexually transmitted infections, and was therefore linked to promiscuity. Also during World War II soldiers in tropical climates developed a kind of acne peculiar to tropical areas. Such soldiers were often quarantined and declared medically unfit for duty. During the Great Depression, many people who had Adult Acne or scars from early onset acne found it difficult to get jobs.

Even these days when it has been established that acne is neither a contagious nor a deadly disease, there are many people who still believe that acne is a sign of terrible personal hygiene, despite the fact that it has been established that hygiene has nothing to do with acne.

With all these forms of stigmatization, both past and present, it is easy to see how acne can lead to reduced self-esteem, particularly in teenagers, it can also cause anxiety and in extreme cases may lead to suicidal thoughts. However, even though in its most serious cases, acne does not cause pain and may often be little more than a minor irritation on the face or the parts of the body where it appears.

Does Acne Go Away After Puberty?

At the moment, there is no cure for acne, it can only be managed. However most acne sufferers are only affected by the mild version of the condition, and their skin lesions and breakouts clear away, even with little or no treatment, by the time they enter their twenties. Many people who are affected usually find that the condition has disappeared or diminished by the time they are 25. At this stage, hormone production has come under control and thus the skin of the adult is no longer as oily as it was as a teenager. 

However in some moderate to severe occurrences of the problem, treatment may be required. Some people, especially women experience acne up to their thirties and their forties and even during menopause. In those cases, there are several antibiotics and retinoids that can be applied to the affected area or taken by mouth. Herbal remedies like Aloe Vera, Olive Leaf Extract, Dandelion Root, Licorice Root, etc. have been proven to help sufferers. Also changes in lifestyle and diet have also helped in managing or curing the condition. However in severe cases the condition may develop a resistance to antibiotics.

When Does Acne Stop in Men?

Men suffer more from Early Onset acne than women, because they produce more testosterone at puberty. However men are less affected by adult acne than women because as adults, their bodies are not subject to as frequent hormonal changes as women are.

 So with little minimal treatment, acne in men usually clear away by the time they are eighteen or nineteen or latest by the time they are twenty five. However, men may also be affected by adult acne and may require treatment as well. Some men who exercise may struggle with adult acne, because sweat contribute to clogged pores which lead to acne. So make sure to bathe regularly and to wash your face and body with cleansers. As a man experiencing severe acne, these few tips may also help you.

Eating food rich in fibre and sugar

Avoid food rich in fats and oils

Avoid mental stress

Get at least 4 to 6 hours of sleep everyday

You should also drink 4 to 5 liters of water daily.

However in severe cases acne may develop a resistance to antibiotics, the best thing to do in that case is to see your dermatologist for advance.

When Does Acne Stop for Females?

As we have mentioned above, female experience Early Onset acne less than men, but they suffer more from adult acne. This is because the female body continue to produce hormones that contribute to acne as adults. 

Thus it is not uncommon to see women experiencing breakouts on their faces and backs up until their twenties to their thirties and their forties. Cases of Acne have even been reported in women of menopausal age. Breakouts may occur, during menstruation or during pregnancy. Sometimes acne can be caused by the stress of childbirth, and also be using or discontinuing the use of certain drugs like birth control pills. Sometimes friction caused by certain things on the body such as backpacks or helmets may also trigger acne in females

If your acne is mild, then the methods listed for male acne above should work for you. Also your doctor can recommend over the counter lotions and creams that will help minimize the condition. The doctor may also recommend that you use or discontinue the use of certain drugs. You might require changes to your lifestyle. It is worthy of note that acne in women is not caused poor hygiene as many people erroneously believe, in fact medical personnel believe that too much washing can actually make the acne worse.

Sometimes severe cases of acne in women can result from another medical condition known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). A condition which is caused by an abnormally elevated level of Estrogen and Androgen production. A condition which apart from acne breakouts may also lead to problems like, amenorrhea, obesity, infertility, excessive hair growth. Therefore if as a woman you are experiencing acne that medical and herbal treatments are unable to help you should consult your doctor in order to test for elevated hormone production.

Are there Efforts Being Made to Combat Acne?

Efforts are currently going on to better understand the condition of acne and how to find a cure for it. However the main stumbling block that researchers are facing in the study of acne is that other than the fact that that it is caused by the Sebum hormone, little or nothing is known about what triggers it and how it can be prevented. Notwithstanding, most of the efforts are focused of reducing Sebum (the hormone that has been identified as the leading cause of acne) production in the body. Some of the research have also focused on using lasers and light to destroy Sebum producing glands in the skin and various medication are also been developed to combat the various bacteria that can cause severe acne.

Writer Details:Oginni David

Location:Obafemi Awolowo University,Osun State,Nigeria🇳🇬.