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ACNE
Page 2
BY BRUCE MIRKEN
© Copyright
1997 by Parents' Press
WHAT CAUSES ACNE?
Contrary to popular myth, acne isn't caused by eating too much chocolate or by poor hygiene. Though diet may have a bit of an impact on some individuals, it is no longer considered a major factor. Stress as a cause of acne is also considered unproven, though Levy is convinced it can be an aggravating influence. And there is little dispute that acne runs in families, with parents who had severe acne often finding that their children do as well.
Acne is most common during adolescence (affecting 85 percent of people between the ages of 12 and 25) because the surge of hormones that begins during puberty sends the skin's sebaceous glands into overdrive.
These tiny glands attached to hair follicles produce sebum, an oily mixture that is nature's way of protecting the skin, and when production goes way up it leads to other chemical and physical changes that produce what doctors call comedones, or blackheads. When these rupture, the result is the infection and inflammation we call pimples.
WHAT WORKS
Good hygiene, including regular, gentle washing (not excessively rough scrubbing), is worthwhile but won't get rid of acne by itself.
The next step for most people whose acne isn't too severe is to try over-the-counter treatments. Look for products containing benzoyl peroxide, which combats the bacteria that produce pimples and causes beneficial changes in the skin chemistry as well. In mild cases, this may be enough to keep the problem under control.
In more serious cases other treatments will be needed, often used in combination. One of the newest and best of these is tretinoin, a vitamin A derivative that helped produce Tom Plummer's dramatic improvement.
Tretinoin, which requires a prescription and comes in gel or cream form, changes the skin chemistry, helping to prevent blackheads and to clear existing ones while creating a less hospitable environment for the unwanted bacteria.
Tretinoin is now used as the first-line treatment in most cases. It can increase sensitivity to sunlight, so sunscreens are recommended for anyone who is outdoors a lot.
A temporary acne flare-up is common after two or three weeks of treatment, but don't panic: This is normal and will pass. It may take six weeks or longer for improvement to be obvious, so a little patience is necessary.
"Give it at least three months," Levy advises.