Acne is the most common skin disease. People of all races and ages get acne. An estimated 80 percent of all people between the ages of 11 and 30 have acne outbreaks at some point. Some people in their forties and fifties still get acne. (SOURCE: www.niams.nih.gov)

 

WHAT IS IT? Acne is a disease that affects the skin’s oil glands. Pores in your skin connect to oil glands under the skin. These glands make an oily substance called sebum. The pores connect to the glands by a canal called a follicle. Inside the follicles, oil carries dead skin cells to the surface of the skin. A thin hair also grows through the follicle and out to the skin. When the follicle of a skin gland clogs up, a pimple grows. Most pimples are found on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Acne is not a serious health threat, but it can cause scars.

 

DIFFERENT TYPES: There are many types of pimples, the most common are:

• Whiteheads: pimples that stay under the surface of the skin

• Blackheads: pimples that rise to the skin’s surface and look black 

• Papules: small pink bumps that can be tender

• Pustules: pimples that are red at the bottom and have pus on top

• Nodules: large, painful, solid pimples, which are deep in the skin

• Cysts: deep, painful, pus-filled pimples that can cause scars

(SOURCE: www.niams.nih.gov)

 

WHAT DO I DO? If you have acne, there are some things you can do to help. First, clean skin gently; use a mild cleanser in the morning, evening and after heavy workouts. DO NOT scrub acne. It can make it worse. Try not to touch your skin; squeezing and picking pimples can cause scars. For guys, shave carefully and only when you have to. Soften your beard with soap and water before putting on shaving cream. Stay out of the sun. Many acne medicines can make people more likely to sunburn. Choose makeup carefully. All makeup should be oil-free, and look for the word “noncomedogenic” on the label. Finally, shampoo your hair regularly. If your hair is oily, you may want to shampoo daily. (SOURCE: www.niams.nih.gov)

 

SMART WOMAN CONTACT: 

Doretta Royer

royerd@upstate.edu