The Skin Care Fact Center

There are many misconceptions about acne despite being one of the most common skin conditions around the world; the main belief being that it only affects young people. In fact nearly 90 percent of people suffer from acne sometime in their lifetime and while acne is dreaded, it usually shows up during our teenage years and fortunately, many people outgrow it.

Our sebaceous glands produce oil called sebum which fouls up the hair follicles and contributes to acne but this is not the only substance responsible. The oil clogged inside the pore, not on the outside of the skin is what makes a pimple although bad acne is more of a contemporary problem and not a condition people in the past generally had to worry about.

Although it is possible that clogged pores that cause acne might be due to the hormone changes every teenager faces or even from cosmetic products that have not been removed fully from the skin. Of course there are other reasons that can contribute to the formation of acne including the poor diet that most people exist on nowadays which is full of reprocessed, fast foods that are high in sugar.

When people have more stubborn cases of acne scarring it is left to a dermatologist to prescribe a stronger remedy which may require a longer period of use. Once a dermatologist has been consulted then he will check on the effectiveness of the medication on a regular basis and monitor to see whether other treatment is necessary. Cleanliness is important, especially beneath the fingernails where germs and bacteria can be found and infect the already sensitive skin condition by scratching.

Unfortunately just because fingernails look clean does not mean they are, and as bacteria are usually invisible to the naked eye, there is no guarantee that an infection cannot be passed on. So wherever possible, it is advisable to keep the hands, especially fingernails away from any acne spots.

Research has shown that if your parents had acne, you’ll probably have it as well and very few people have perfect skin, so it is a very common skin disorder among almost every single person. The most likely scenario is that you will contact acne while you are young probably around puberty..

If necessary, bad acne sufferers should consult a dermatologist or qualified physician for acne treatment. The information here is not designed to replace the advice given by a doctor, dermatologist or other medical professional.