The Acne bacteria - now known as Cutibacterium Acnes - live on everyone’s skin
What causes acne?
Our sebaceous (oil producing) glands are affected by our hormones. In people who have Acne, the glands are particularly sensitive even to the normal blood levels of these hormones. This causes the glands to produce too much oil and grease, and at the same time the lining of the pores (the small holes in the skin surface) become thickened and the dead cells are not shed properly.
A mixture of the sebum and dead cells build up which plugs the pores, producing blackheads and whiteheads. The plug of dead skin cells turns black from exposure to air - not due to dirt.
Acne can be inflamed with spots and pustules or just blackheads and blocked pores.
Type of acne
Usually causing no problems, for those with Acne the build-up of oil is an ideal environment for the bacteria to multiply. This is accompanied by inflammation which leads to the formation of red, swollen or pus-filled spots.
Blackheads - open Comedones (no inflammation)
Whiteheads - overstimulation of the sebaceous glands (no inflammation)
Pustules and Nodules - proliferation of Cutibacterium Acnes (formerly Propionibacterium Acnes)
Nodules and Severe, Deep Inflammation - risk of permanent scars
Stages of acne
Severe Acne is often wide-spread and can affect the face and neck or chest or back.
We often don’t relate non-inflammatory acne with ‘Acne’, dismissing the subtler signs of it as temporary breakouts which go away on their own. However, this can progress as a chronic inflammation of the pilosebacous uniti which leads to more problematic Acne and even scarring.
STAGE 1
Oily skin
Clogged pores
Slight Acne
STAGE 2
Oily skin
Clogged pores
Lots of Acne
STAGE 3
Oily and inflamed skin
Clogged pores
Acne, papules and pustules
STAGE 4
Oily and very inflamed skin
Clogged pores, severe Acne
Many papules and pustules
Each progressive stage of Acne manifests a variety of different problems, it can be painful and uncomfortable and may lead to scarring. All of the stages require some intervention to prevent the progression of the condition.
For years now, dermatologists have also used another less known but very effective
treatment: Blue Light Therapy.
Find out how Blue Light Technology can help.
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Acne and self-esteem
We do hear frequently that “beauty is more than skin-deep”. We live in a society where a lot of emphasis is placed on having a healthy attractive appearance. Over recent years with the expansion of social media, “selfies” and zoom meetings, facial appearance has been more under the spotlight than ever before. It is not an easy time to have acne.
Acne and Stress Management
Not only does acne cause anxiety, but stress worsens acne symptoms. Indeed, surveys indicate that sufferers consider stress to be the most important factor that worsens skin symptoms. How can this stress/ acne circle be interrupted? There are some interesting techniques and tips to help reducing acne induced stress and therefore acne itself!
Do We Inherit Acne?
Why is it that around 20% of people in western societies are significantly affected by acne and other people are not? The biggest factor is almost certainly genetic. But could there be more to it?
5 Acne Myths Debunked
Does toothpaste actually help with acne? Is sunbathing really beneficial? With so much conflicting advice available on the internet about acne today, Dr Sam Robson debunks some of these misconceptions and set the record straight about problem skin in her latest blog.
Shaving with Acne
More than 20 years ago, men in Australia started growing a moustache (a “mo”) in the month of November and rechristened the month as “Movember”. The “Movember movement” has since spread worldwide and raises money for men’s health (mainly prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental illness and suicide prevention) – and so, this month is an appropriate time to discuss men shaving (or not shaving) and acne.
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