Acne is a skin disease that appears mainly in adolescence, 85% of cases are teenagers but can often present in adulthood. It affects a significant percentage of the population at some point in their lives. It is mainly due to the body's reaction to large amounts of circulating hormones (testosterone) and androgens, to bacteria, and also to common allergies to various foods.
In women, an important factor in the appearance of acne is the action of androgenic hormones such as in the polycystic ovary syndrome . In 70% of women with acne, the appearance of certain lesions or an exacerbation of the existing ones a week or so before menstruation is observed.
The most common form of acne is Acne Vulgaris which means "common acne," and most people suffer from this type of acne.
The face and upper neck are most commonly affected, but the back, chest, and shoulders are also often involved
The exact cause of acne is not yet known.
Several factors are said to be associated with acne:
- Family history: The tendency to develop acne is hereditary
- Hormonal activity
- Stress
- Accumulation of dead skin cells
- Bacteria in pores
- Skin irritation can cause inflammation
- The use of anabolic steroids
- Any medications containing halogens, lithium, or androgens
- Exposure to high levels of chlorine
- Exposure to specific medications and chemical recommendations, such as narcotics
There are many different acne treatments aiming in four different actions:
- Inflammation control
- Hormonal manipulation
- Normalizing skin cell shedding and sebum production in pores
- Medicines such as: alpha hydroxy acids, antiandrogen drugs, antibiotics, antiseborrheic drugs, azelaic acid, benzene peroxide, hormonal drugs, keratolytic soap, nicotinamide, retinoids, salicylic acid
- Systemic treatments as well as phototherapy and lasers therapy, can be used separately or in combination depending on the case.
