Getting acne....Q&A............(part 3 of 5)

Introduction
Acne — it’s not exactly a subject that you like to talk about
every day. At social events, you do your best to conceal
it under makeup (although if you’re a man, makeup is usually
not a realistic option). For kids, acne is more than just a stage of
adolescence — it’s the pits! In fact, acne can be a problem for
people of any age. Even newborns and seniors can develop acne!
Americans currently spend more than $4 billion a year on skin
treatments, nearly $100 million of which goes toward nonprescrip-
tion acne medications alone. We lavish millions on expensive spe-
cial soaps and cleansers, prescription therapies, and visits to
physicians. Besides money, we also spend an enormous amount o
time at beauty counters, salons, spas, and tanning parlors.
Much of this extravagance is encouraged by the messages we get
from the media that market unrealistic promises. Ad campaigns
promote skin care products using models and movie stars that
have perfect, radiant skin. They perpetuate the idea that clear,
youthful appearing skin is the only way to go; imperfections are to
be looked down on as something to be ashamed of. Many myths
and misconceptions about skin care in general, and acne specifi-
cally, continue to be widely believed.
During my 25 years of practicing dermatology, I’ve observed my
patients trying to cope with the embarrassment of acne and
related skin disorders. That’s what motivated me to write a realis-
tic, practical guide for the understanding and treatment of acne
and related conditions. My goal is to dispel many of the myths and
misconceptions and to help the reader find out more about his or
her condition and manage it more successfully.
Keep in mind that attractiveness to others is much more than
physical beauty. It also includes such factors as intelligence and
personality. Remember — beauty and acne are only skin deep!