What Is Acne?

My quest to understand acne started with questioning extraction procedures.  My Journey
But then quickly changed to what actually goes on in the body when a person suffers from acne?
What are the bacteria cells doing?
What chemical breakdowns are happening?
What is the chain reaction of events?

We were are all taught in school

Acne is caused by dead skin cell accumulation in the follicle (hyperkeratinization) mixed with p- acne bacteria and sebum, combined with a lack of oxygen.  This creates a pimple. Simply put, that is true, but there is much more that goes on. This is not for the client that has breakouts here and there during menstruation.  This research is for clients that suffer from chronic acne.

ACNE IS A DISEASE

Acne is not a skin condition, but rather an inflammatory skin disease. Acne is a disease just like any other genetic disease.  Take diabetes, for instance.  As yet, there is no known cure for diabetes.  There is insulin that helps control it, but no known cure. Acne is not as serious as diabetes, but the comparison is important. Acne also knows no cure.  We have treatments and products that keep it under control, but no known cure.

SO WHAT GOES WRONG? The chain of events that lead to acne.

1) At puberty the body starts producing testosterone
2) An enzyme in the skin changes testosterone to dihydrotestosterone
3) Dihydrotestosterone stimulates the sebaceous glands to begin producing sebum
4) In the acne-defective follicle, sebum sets off retention hyperkeratosis (acne).

The first three processes occur in everyone.  We all begin producing hormones at puberty.  Everyone's pores begin to flow with sebum in adolescence.  But it is only in the individuals with a special vulnerability to the fourth that a reaction occurs- retention hyperkeratosis, which produces the acne explosion.

HORMONES THEMSELVES DO NOT CAUSE ACNE! 

"Acne sufferers do not necessarily produce more testosterone.  Hormones merely trigger the process in genetically acne-prone skin.  Oily skin does not cause acne. True, most acne sufferers do have oily skin, but you can possess very oily skin and still never sprout a pimple.  Oily skin is just the triggering component, once again affecting only those with the genetic defect. In those individuals, sebum provides the match that ignites the acne fire."  Dr Fulton: Acne RX

Genetic Connection

Acne is often inherited as a dominant characteristic, which means that if both parents had acne approximately three out of four offspring will develop acne.  If one parent had acne, one or two offspring out of four will develop it. In addition to genetics, cultural and environmental factors could affect the entire population.

Stay tuned for my next article.  An inside look at the chemical reactions, and breakdowns that cause acne.