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Wynnie Chan

What is acne?

Acne is a skin problem caused by an overproduction of oil from the skin's sebaceous (oil-producing) glands.

The  pores on the surface of the skin are linked to oil glands under the surface of the skin through  canals called follicles. The oil inside these follicles carries dead skin cells  to the surface of the skin.

In acne, the follicle gets clogged up with excess oil and dead skin cells, and as a result a pimple,  blackhead or whitehead is formed.

Bacteria can make the situation worse inside the blocked pore by producing chemicals which change the composition of the oil,  irritating  the skin and causing  inflammation.

Most pimples, whiteheads and blackheads are found on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders,  areas of the skin which contain the greatest number of sebaceous glands.

The adrenal glands, situated on the top of  our kidneys, produce hormones called androgens.  Androgens stimulate the oil glands to produce oil.

During  puberty, the increased amount of hormones in our body causes our oil glands to become overactive.

The adrenal glands also produce more androgens when we are stressed.

Although acne is not a serious health condition, it can leave scars.

Who gets acne?

According to the US National Institute of Health, acne is the most common skin disease.  It affects nearly 17 million people in the United States.

Although acne is most common in pre-teens, teens and young adults - one in 10 are affected - some people  in their 30s and 40s still get acne.

See the box below for data about acne sufferers from the US Census Bureau's International Database 2004.

A recent UK survey  found that 39% of teenagers with acne avoided going to school because they were embarrassed, and just under a third of those interviewed said that acne stopped them from making friends.

The food connection

All kinds of foods have been blamed for causing or exacerbating acne: from greasy foods like chips or pizza,  to chocolate,  peanuts  and milk.

Because chocolate and greasy foods contain a lot of fat and sebum contains fats, some people believe   that fat from the food adds to the fat leaving  the sebaceous glands,  blocking the glands and leading to acne.

Dermatologist Leung Sze-kee  dispels these myths.

'The  belief that foods such as chocolate and dairy products exacerbate acne is a myth.

'A balanced diet is the most important thing.  Supplements  cannot enhance the appearance and/or health of our skin.'

If you  feel that eating certain foods such as chocolate, caffeine or junk foods  makes your acne worse,  there's no harm in avoiding these foods.

Eating a healthy balanced diet, which contains plenty of water, fruit and vegetables,  and doing regular physical activity will improve the health of

your skin.

What about hygiene?

It is also a myth that teens get acne because they don't wash enough. In fact, excessive washing or harsh scrubbing can irritate the skin and make acne worse.

Oils or dirt on the surface of the skin  don't cause acne.  It is the excess oil  under the skin's surface that is the problem.

How to deal with acne

The best approach to mild acne is to gently wash your face a couple of times a day with warm water and a mild soap, then pat dry.  Apply an appropriate topical treatment for acne, such as one containing benzoyl peroxide.

Dr Leung says:  'Remember to use  an appropriate cream for your  skin. You might need the advice of a beautician and/or doctor to find out what you need.'

Quiz

1. What causes acne?

a. excessive oil produced by oil glands under the skin's surface

b. excessive dirt and oil on the skin's surface

c. excessive eating of greasy and fatty foods

2. Hormones stimulate the oil glands to produce sebum. Which  glands in the body produce androgens?

a. endocrine

b. adrenal

c. lymphatic

3. There are small openings on the surface of the skin which link the oil glands to the surface of the skin. What are these holes called?

a. plugs

b. pores

c. pimples

4. Which of the following countries has the highest prevalence of acne?

a. Hong Kong

b. US

c. China

Answers

a, b, b, c



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