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Find Out How Acne Develops
April 15, 2008Comments (0)We know that acne is a very common skin condition. Some people encounter mild acne while others suffer from severe cases of acne. Acne is considered a skin disease that affects us not only physically, but emotionally as well. When you have acne on your face, it is not exactly a pleasant sight and you may feel embarrassed to go out and socialize because of the acne. However, there are ways to get rid of acne so that you can live a normal life with confidence.
What Triggers Acne?
Acne occurs when our pores are clogged by a kind of oil called sebum. Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands in our bodies. Sometimes, our sebaceous glands function improperly and produce more sebum than our skin or pores can handle. When too much sebum or oil occurs, the pores are clogged, and the dead skin cells cannot be removed. When bacteria come in contact with the clogged pore, they will infect our skin and cause acne.
Pilosebaceous Units
Acne lesions are caused by the pilosebaceous units in our bodies. These units consist of hair follicles and sebaceous glands, and they can be found anywhere within our bodies, excluding the palm and the bottom of the feet. You?ve probably noticed that we never get acne on the palm or at the sole of our feet. Pilosebaceous units can be found on the face, chest, neck, and back. Acne will develop when the pilosebaceous canal gets clogged.
How Pilosebaceous Canal Gets Clogged
As previously mentioned, it is the excess oil called sebum that clogs our pores. This happens when there is an overproduction of sebum, which will cause the pilosebaceous canal to get clogged. Sebum is produced by our sebaceous glands, and it will be produced in excess when the sebaceous glands become hyperactive. The activities of the sebaceous glands are influenced by the hormones in our bodies, particularly the male hormones. Any imbalance or stimulation that occurs in the male hormones will always lead to acne.
Ductal Hypercornification
When the over production of sebum occurs, ductal hypercornification occurs too. Ductal hypercornification refers to the overproduction of the follicle wall?s cell lining, and it will prevent dead cells from being removed. With the pilosebaceous canal already clogged up, sebum or oil and dead cells will clog the pores, and this will lead to the development of acne. Some bacteria called propionibacterium acnes can be found on top of our skin. They will draw white blood cells from our immune system and become inflamed. And the result is acne.
For more information on the development of acne, you can check out Medical Center of Central Georgia, Hippocrates World Site, Acne.com, and Yale New Haven children?s Hospital.