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Overview for Dietary and Lifestyle or Treatment info
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Acne (acne vulgaris, teenage
spots) is an inflammatory skin condition which particularly affects
the face, back and chest. About 85-90% of people develop some spottiness.
It is commonest in young adolescents, but may persist into the 30's
and 40's. The skin is often (but not always) greasy and may have comedones
(blackheads), whiteheads, small pimples (red papules), large pustules
(yellow) or painful swollen cysts. The oil-producing glands that are
associated with the tiny hairs which cover the face and body become
active at puberty when the male hormone testosterone acts on them. (The
male hormone is a normal part of the blood of woman as well as men).
Testosterone causes the oil glands to produce more grease (sebum) which
in turn can make the skin surface abnormally sticky and block the pores.
The trapped oil becomes infected and this leads to pimple formation.
Acne may run in families, and some women find their acne often becomes
worse before a period (this is related to the hormonal changes at this
time). Oral steroid drugs and anti-epilepsy medication can also make
acne worse.
Overview | Orthodox
Treatments | Dietary
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