Acne 101
The Truth about Breakouts
Does eating chocolate give you zits? What about stress? Or the weather? You only have a breakout here and there so you don't have acne, right? It's time to reveal the truth about breakouts.
While it's a myth that eating chocolate causes pimples, stress can aggravate your skin. By kicking off the release of androgens - hormones that produce a sticky oil in hair follicles - stress can be the culprit behind the breakouts weeks before they surface.
As far as weather goes, breakouts are more likely to occur on hot, humid days because your skin can be aggravated by heat and friction.
And yes, even one pimple is considered acne.
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Types of Acne
If a pore becomes clogged, then closes and bulges out, you have a whitehead.
If a pore becomes clogged but stays open and the top darkens, then you have a blackhead.
Sometimes when the walls of a pore become damaged, bacteria and dead skin work their way under the live skin. This leaves you with a small, red infection called a pimple.
Clogged pores that are open and infected deep in the skin cause cysts. These infections are generally larger than those that cause pimples.
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Who is Affected By Acne?
Even one breakout classifies someone as an acne sufferer.
52% of acne sufferers are adults.
Of the 76 million Americans who had acne in a six-month period in 2000, 66% (51 million) were aged 25-49. (Ortho Pharmaceutical Study)
Acne affects approximately 17 million people in the United States.
(Doctor's Guide, 1/3/2001)
80% of the U.S. population develops some form of acne during their lifetime. (Doctor's Guide, 1/3/2001)
A Blemish Life Cycle
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Phase One
Acne begins when hair follicles get clogged by sebum, an oily substance made by your skin. In those who are acne prone, this oil gets trapped in the narrow follicle, causing cells to clump and form a plug.
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Phase Two
Phase two begins when bacteria, which love the air-tight environment created by the plug, start feeding and breeding inside the pores. The body responds by sending white blood cells to fight these bacterial invaders.
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Phase Three
The immune response to the bacteria is what causes the third phase of a blemish. The skin becomes inflamed and small pink bumps, pimples, nodules, or cysts appear. It is this inflammation that results in scarring, dark marks, and discoloration.
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Treating Acne
It actually takes about two weeks for acne to reach the surface of the skin. That's why, when you start treating acne, it's normal to see flare-ups. Usually you won't see results until the third or fourth week. For this reason, it's important to be patient with a new acne regimen. The secret to controlling acne is prevention - stopping the formation of acne before it becomes a visible pimple.
When Does Acne Stop?
Most people see their acne improve as they get older. However, some people don't get acne until they are in their 20s, 30s, or even 40s.
The bad news is that some of the effects of past acne can last a lifetime.
The good news is breakouts and the signs of past acne can be treated with the help of modern science so everyone can enjoy clear, healthy skin.
From "The Truth about Breakouts" by Dr. Alexa Boer Kimball
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