Acne & Skin Care

 

What is acne?

Acne is a common skin condition that can begin as early as age eight, and usually improves when a guy is in his twenties. Acne is caused by clogged “pores” or “follicles” (small openings in the skin) that contain a hair and oil (sebaceous) glands. Acne occurs on the face, back, and chest. The follicles are clogged by dead skin cells and oil (called sebum) made in the pore. When you become a teenager, hormones can cause too much sebum to be made. All this extra sebum helps clog pores leading to whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, and cysts. Contrary to common myths, chocolate, soda, and greasy foods don’t make acne worse.

• Whiteheads are pores that are bulging with dead skin cells and sebum
• Blackheads happen when a clogged pore is open and a chemical reaction causes the surface to darken; the blackhead is not dirt
• Pimples occur when a clogged pore becomes infected by bacteria, causing a red, raised bump
• Cysts occur when clogged up pores break under the skin causing bigger bumps; these cysts can cause a scar

 

Increased hormones (androgens) lead sebaceous glands to enlarge,

causing an increase in sebum (oil), resulting in clogged pores: acne

 

What should I do if I have acne?

There are a lot of medicines to treat acne including benzoyl peroxide, tretinoin products (such as Retin-A®, Differin®, and Tazorac®), and antibiotics. Antibiotics may be applied directly to your face or taken by mouth and help treat the bacteria that can cause pimples and cysts. Some medicines are over-the-counter, but most require a prescription. Retin-A products are particularly helpful for mild acne (whiteheads and blackheads). For moderate to severe acne (pimples, cysts, and scars), a combination approach is best.

 

Talk with your health care provider about medicines that might be helpful for treating your acne. You will need to be patient; it can take 8 to 12 weeks for acne to improve with any treatment. If your acne remains severe, your provider may refer you to a dermatologist (doctor who specializes in treating skin problems) who may consider a medication called Accutane®.

 

Remember:

• Wash your skin with a mild soap such as Purpose, Basis, or Neutrogena to remove the oil
• Don't scrub your face or use harsh soaps; you can't scrub acne away and you will make your acne worse
• Don't pick at your face or "pop" pimples
• Avoid moisturizers or sunscreens that have oil in them (look for a label that says it is “non-comedogenic”)
• Remove hats or helmets as soon as you are done using them. Wash your face after wearing a helmet or headband
• If you work in a fast-food restaurant or as a cook, you may be exposed to oils and greases. Wash your face when you get home

Written by the CYWH and YMH Staff at Children's Hospital Boston

 

Updated: 2/5/2008

 

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