Don't despair you're not alone! Acne is common in 80% of young people and is treatable.
Acne is one of the most common skin problems. It affects most teenagers to some degree and even many adults. Acne shows up as whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, and, in some people, deep painful bumps that look and feel like boils. Acne most commonly occurs on the face but can also appear on the back, chest, shoulders and neck. In most people, acne clears up after a few years. But at its worst, acne can be persistent and can cause permanent scarring of the skin.
Acne is not your fault. It is not caused by dirt, or by eating too much chocolate, hamburgers or french fries. Acne is a condition caused by things happening deep inside your skin. It is now understood that genetics play a role in acne. If your parents had acne as a teen, most likely you will, too. The good news is there are things you can do about it, including talking to your parents and seeing a dermatologist. The best way to help your skin is by treating it gently, keeping your hands away from your skin and not picking at it.
Stages of Acne
Clear follicle
The skin has many pores. Below each pore is a hollow area called the follicle. Cells lining the follicle continually break away. These cells mix with sebum (oily substance from oil glands), move through the pore to the skin's surface and are washed away.
Trapped sebum in follicle
As you become a teenager, these oil glands are triggered to produce excess sebum, which mixes with cells and other skin materials to form plugs that block the pore. When plugged, the follicle swells and forms a whitehead or blackhead (bump on the skin).
Bacteria growing inside the follicle
Many bacteria live on the skin surface and in the follicle. One of these is
P. acnes - normally no problem. However, when trapped in a whitehead or blackhead,
P. acnes grows rapidly and causes a build-up of pressure.
Visible acne
Pressure causes the follicle to break open, and the contents leak to the surrounding tissue, causing redness and forming pimples. Pustules, whitish topped pimples, develop when the body's white blood cells attack this material and pus develops.
Benefits of using Cetaphil Acne Principles:
- Effective medication that treats acne and helps heal your skin.
- Assurance that you're getting the right combination of products.
- Convenient 3 step acne fighting system.
HOW BENZOYL PEROXIDE USP 5% IN CETAPHIL ACNE PRINCIPLES WORKS ON ACNE.
Benzoyl peroxide tackles bacteria head-on and does a terrific job of killing the bacteria that cause acne, called P.acnes, and keeps new ones from growing and creating new problems. Then, your skin just needs time to make all the new cells needed to heal itself. Your skin replaces itself every 28 days, so give it a chance to do what it needs to do!