In this part . . .
This is the place to start for the full story on acne. I give
you an overview of the condition — its causes and
appearance — and provide a few pointers on determining
if you can treat it yourself with over-the-counter products
or if it’s time to call in a dermatologist. Then, I introduce
you to the parts and functions of your skin, along with tips
on caring for this vital organ. Finally, I walk you through
the lifecycle of a pimple, explaining how acne forms.
In This Chapter
Putting your best face forward
Outlining treatment options
Seeking the cure
Looking at the look-alikes
Benjamin Franklin said, “In this world nothing can be said to be
certain, except death and taxes,” to which I would add a third
certainty — acne. Acne is one of those equally dreaded, nearly uni-
versal experiences through which most of us pass during our teen
years and, more recently, is increasingly coming back to revisit
many of us as adults. In this chapter, you find out that you’re not
alone in your desire to have clear skin. Along the way, you discover
that acne is a treatable condition and many of the treatment
options are made to order for your type of acne.
Acne Explained
Acne is the most common skin disorder in the world. Blemishes,
bumps, papules, pustules, spots, whiteheads, zits, goobers, the
plague, or whatever you call it, almost everyone is liable to get it.
In the United States and Canada, acne affects 45 to 55 million indi-
viduals at some point in their lives, the vast majority of whom are
teenagers. In fact, nearly 80 percent of all young people will face at
least an occasional breakout of acne. Acne imposes itself on young
men and young women about equally, but young men are likelier to
have more severe forms of acne.
The events that take place in the sebaceous glands and hair folli-
cles trigger acne. The exact cause is unknown; however, regardless
of a person’s age, acne is a condition of clogged hair follicles and
the reaction of sebaceous glands, glands that are attached to hair
follicles and produce an oily substance called sebum. Mix in some
dead skin cells that become “sticky” and block the pores, add a bit
of bacteria, and you have the makings of a breakout. For the full
story on your skin, check out Chapter 2. And for a more detailed
description about how pimples form, see Chapter 3.
Doctors believe that these events, and acne itself, result from sev-
eral related factors, including your hormones (which are responsi-
ble for increasing oil production) and heredity (the tendency to
develop acne is often inherited from parents and other relatives).
Less commonly, acne can occur as a reaction to certain drugs and
chemicals, and other physical factors may exacerbate the problem.
I cover all of these issues, including the myths and misinformation
concerning the causes of acne, in Chapter 6 (and I review several
hormonal disorders that can result in acne in Chapter 20), but I’ll
put one myth to bed right now that will come as good news.
Pizza, French fries, and other greasy foods don’t cause acne or
make it worse. You’re welcome. (I’m a doctor, so I’m compelled to
remind you that though these foods won’t affect your acne, they
aren’t the building blocks of a healthy diet.) But before you snidely
bring this mistaken notion to your mom’s attention, another one of
her common statements is right on the money: “Quit playing with
your face.” Picking does make zits worse!
Waking up to whiteheads,
blackheads, and zits
In most cases, acne starts between the ages of 10 and 13 and usu-
ally lasts for 5 to 10 years. The appearance of teenage acne (acne
vulgaris is the technical term that I throw around here and there in
the book) is largely the result of your body’s increased production
of hormones. The good news is that those embarrassing blemishes
usually go away and are often gone for good by the time you reach
your early 20s.
However, the not-so-good news is that for some unlucky folks, acne
vulgaris can persist into their late 20s or 30s or even beyond. But
back to the good news: There are many steps you can take to zap
the zits and improve the appearance of your skin, as I explain in
the “Creating Your Acne-Treating Program” section, later in this
chapter. And turn to Chapter 4 for the complete rundown on the
causes, appearance, and other considerations of teenage acne.
Taking it on the chin later in life
Although acne is typically thought of as a condition of youth, an
ever-growing number of women (less often men) get acne for the
first time as adults. Acne is no longer just a teenage affliction.
There’s definitely been a rise in the number of adult women in
their 20s and 30s with acne — even those who never had a pimple
before!
Teenage and adult-onset acne have somewhat different character-
istics. For one thing, the appearance is different: Adults have fewer
blackheads and whiteheads; for another, adult acne tends to be
more often located on the lower part of a woman’s face. Also, the
appearance of female adult-onset acne is often closely linked to a
woman’s menstrual cycle as well as increased sensitivity to hor-
mones such as those brought about by pregnancy, starting or stop-
ping birth control pills, and other hormonal abnormalities.
If you’re really unlucky, you have adult-onset acne and have also
brought along some acne vulgaris from your teenage years. I pro-
vide the full story on acne in adult women in Chapter 5.
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