Lifestyle Choices

Unlike an outbreak of ordinary pimples, acne is a severe skin disorder common to adolescents that can be both painful and embarrassing. Many teens who suffer from acne also suffer from real confusion about its causes and proper treatment. According to noted acne expert Dr. James E. Fulton Jr., the disease can be treated effectively. The following is some of his helpful information on what really causes the trouble and on what you can do to fight it.

Acne starts with the pores, well below the skin’s surface and out of reach of both dirt and the drying soaps, tough scrubs, and cleansers commonly used to treat it. Breakouts are triggered by a hormone that stimulates the sebaceous glands so that they produce excess oil. The excess oil then prompts the pores to shed the cells in their lining more rapidly than usual. The cast-off dead cells combine with oil to form a plug within the pore, called a whitehead. As more cells are shed, the plug gets bigger and the pore opening enlarges, allowing air to get in, which turns the whitehead into a blackhead. Sometimes, the whitehead breaks through the lining of the pore, and the body’s defenses respond by sending in a rush of white blood cells: result—an inflammation. Since dirt is not the skin’s true enemy, cleansing the face two or three times daily with mild soap is quite sufficient. Only medication that goes below the surface of the skin will really help; more on that later. Moreover, the traditional “acne-causing” foods such as french fries, milk shakes, and chocolate are now thought to have little effect on the skin. What you should avoid, however, is iodine, which is found in table salt and salty foods and snacks. Why? The body’s excess salts are excreted through the sebaceous glands and can irritate pores.

Interestingly, stress has been shown to be a factor in triggering breakouts; it lowers resistance, and when the body’s defenses are down, acne can flare up. Moreover, stress increases your body’s hormone production, another acne-causing factor. What to do? Exercise regularly, and be sure you get a full eight hours of sleep nightly. Study a little every day instead of cramming for exams, and skip the late-night TV shows; exhaustion also lowers resistance. Eat sensibly, avoiding known stress inducers such as caffeine and sugary refined foods. You can use cosmetics on acne-prone skin, but they must be the right ones. How to tell? Apply a thick streak of your foundation on a piece of 25 percent cotton bond paper. Then wait 24 hours. If you can see an oil ring on the paper, you should switch brands.

The sun, also thought to dry out acne, is not helpful in treating it. Although a tan may give you some camouflage, in the long run the heat, humidity, and ultraviolet rays can actually aggravate acne by overstimulating the sebaceous glands and increasing the shedding within the pores, which only causes more clogging.

The most effective over-the-counter medications are, according to Dr. Fulton, those containing benzoyl peroxide. (Tip: Use a polyester cleaning sponge to remove the dead cell buildup that oftenaccompanies such treatments.) Other internal and external medications must be prescribed by a physician. If your acne is severe and does not respond to a sensible regime of proper diet, rest, exercise, hygiene, and cosmetics/ medications, it may be time to see a dermatologist, a doctor who specializes in skin disorders. Talk to your parents about making an appointment for you soon.

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