Acne 101: Tackling troubled teen skin

Battling chronic acne can lead to emotional stress, particularly in adolescents who already face the turmoil of physical and psychological changes. The stress of acne can lead to poor self-image, social inhibition and anxiety.

Types of acne

Acne can occur in the following forms:

• Comedones: Non-inflammatory papules that can be open (blackheads) or closed (whiteheads).
• Whiteheads: White dots that are pores impacted with oil and covered by skin layers.
• Blackheads: Black bumps that are impacted pores in which material pushes out through the follicles. The black color is not from dirt. It may be from bacteria and matter that reacts with oxygen.
• Papules: Lesions that are inflamed and can be tender to the touch. These usually appear as small, pink bumps on the skin.
• Pustules: Lesions that are inflamed and filled with pus. They may be red at the base.
• Nodules: Solid lesions that are large, painful, and lodged deep within the skin. Papules, pustules or nodules are more serious lesions appearing red and swollen due to inflammation or infection of the tissue around the clogged follicles.
• Cysts: Pus-filled lesions deep under the skin. These may cause scarring and pain.

Causes

Dr. Joseph Mercola, a leading natural health expert, explains that there are four key causes of acne:

• Plugging of the hair follicle
• Excess sebum production
• Inflammation in the pore
• Presence and activity of propioniform bacteria (acne causing bacteria)

The root causes that lead to the above acne conditions vary widely but several key factors contribute such as:

Hormones. Androgens elevate in boys and girls during puberty and cause sebaceous glands to get larger and produce more sebum. Androgens also may increase because of hormonal changes during pregnancy or after starting or stopping birth control pills. Hormones affect the skin's oil glands (sebaceous glands). The sebaceous glands create sebum, an oily substance that spills onto the skin through hair follicle openings (pores). The blend of oil and cells allows bacteria that normally live on the skin to grow in the follicle openings. As a result, the pores become clogged and pimples develop.

Genetics. Researchers believe developing acne may be inherited from parents. But a genetic predisposition doesn't mean a teenager is destined to repeat their parent's acne misery.

Medications. Some drugs (for example, anti-epilepsy medication, prednisone, androgens, and lithium) cause acne.

Beauty products/cosmetics. Anything with a greasy consistency can change the cells of the follicles, causing them to stick together and resulting in a plugged pore. Water-based products are less likely to cause acne.

Stress. High levels of stress is your entire body's enemy, skin is no exception. CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone) is released into the blood from the hypothalamus in the brain during times of stress. CRH creates a hormone, called cortisol (stress hormone) causes oil glands to produce more oil and that leads to skin pores getting blocked. Deep breathing, exercise, massage, joining a teen support group, talking to parents, clergy or a trusted counselor can all help teens deal with stress.

Friction. Irritation caused by leaning on or rubbing the skin; harsh scrubbing may cause acne.

Pressure. Pressure from bike helmets, backpacks, or tight collars can irritate the skin and lead to a breakout.

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