Common skin conditions: Acne

Acne is a very common problem and over 90% of all teenagers suffer from this skin condition at one point or another during puberty. Acne, formally known as acne vulgaris, normally decreases dramatically after puberty but in some the condition will persist into adulthood.

Acne is an ancient problem and it is well known that some pharaohs in ancient Egypt suffered from acne. In ancient Rome they used sulphur in mineral water to treat acne and the use of suplhur as a treatment against acne survive well into the 19^th century. In the 1930s doctors experimented with laxatives and radiation, although benzoyl peroxide was used as early as the 1920s. Once antibiotics started to get wide spread during the 50s doctors and patients started noticing that is had an effect on infected pimples as well. Eventually, antibiotic creams were developed to fight acne. during the 1980s oral isotretinoin showed to be very effective against acne but the drug had serious side effects in pregnant women causing virth defects and miscarriages.

Women who suffers from acne can sometimes be treated by a hormonal acne treatment. The estrogen / progestogen found in normal hormonal contraceptives have some effect, but serious ailments may require an antiandrogen combined with oestrogen. In cases where one or a few pimples grow especially big and do not respond to other acne medication, a doctor might inject hydrocortisone into it. A shot of cortisone can quickcly reduce inflammation and redness however it can have sideeffects especially if used over a longer time period.

Blackheads, formally known as open camedones, are a special variant of acne vulgaris and are formed with oils accumulate in the duct of the sebaceous gland. A common myth is that blackheads are caused by poor hygiene but this myth is not true. If you clean your face to much it can cause dryness that promts the skin to produce more oils and thereby worsening the problem.

Blackheads are usually unpleassant to look at but they are not dangerous, that said you might still want to know how to remove blackheads while avoiding to cause damage to the surrounding skin. The blackheads stick to the strip and is removed when the strip is removed provided that the strip is not removed to early. The blackheads will be removed when the tape are removed as they stick to the tape. If you have a lot of problems with blackheads salicylic acid may be a more practical solution than strips since strips only offer temporary relief.