Acne Explained

Acne is the most common skin disorder in the world. Blemishes, bumps, papules, pustules, spots, whiteheads, zits, goobers, the plague, or whatever you call it, almost everyone is liable to get it. In the United States and Canada, acne affects 45 to 55 million indi- viduals at some point in their lives, the vast majority of whom are teenagers. In fact, nearly 80 percent of all young people will face at least an occasional breakout of acne. Acne imposes itself on young men and young women about equally, but young men are likelier to have more severe forms of acne.

The events that take place in the sebaceous glands and hair folli- cles trigger acne. The exact cause is unknown; however, regardless of a person's age, acne is a condition of clogged hair follicles and the reaction of sebaceous glands, glands that are attached to hair follicles and produce an oily substance called sebum. Mix in some dead skin cells that become "sticky" and block the pores, add a bit of bacteria, and you have the makings of a breakout. For the full story on your skin, check out Chapter 2. And for a more detailed description about how pimples form, see Chapter 3.

Doctors believe that these events, and acne itself, result from sev- eral related factors, including your hormones (which are responsi- ble for increasing oil production) and heredity (the tendency to develop acne is often inherited from parents and other relatives).

Less commonly, acne can occur as a reaction to certain drugs and chemicals, and other physical factors may exacerbate the problem. I cover all of these issues, including the myths and misinformation concerning the causes of acne, in Chapter 6 (and I review several hormonal disorders that can result in acne in Chapter 20), but I'll put one myth to bed right now that will come as good news.

Pizza, French fries, and other greasy foods don't cause acne or make it worse. You're welcome. (I'm a doctor, so I'm compelled to remind you that though these foods won't affect your acne, they aren't the building blocks of a healthy diet.) But before you snidely bring this mistaken notion to your mom's attention, another one of her common statements is right on the money: "Quit playing with your face." Picking does make zits worse!

Dealing with Acne

Benjamin Franklin said, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes," to which I would add a third certainty -- acne. Acne is one of those equally dreaded, nearly uni- versal experiences through which most of us pass during our teen years and, more recently, is increasingly coming back to revisit many of us as adults. In this chapter, you find out that you're not alone in your desire to have clear skin. Along the way, you discover that acne is a treatable condition and many of the treatment options are made to order for your type of acne.