The internal elements of our skin remain largely hidden most of the time, quietly getting on with their job of keeping us healthy, but it's interesting to understand what exactly goes on under the surface and why we are built the way we are. The sebaceous glands are one component that merit a closer look, keeping the skin itself fit and functional. The oil in the machine some might say.
In the case of these particular body parts, however, the oiling idea can be taken a little more literally. That's because sebum, the fluid that the sebaceous glands secrete, is an oily, waxy substance that slowly and microscopically seeps out, keeping our skin lubricated and preventing it from drying, as well as producing a barrier to bacteria on the skin, which it does in conjunction with sweat and other secretions.
Unfortunately, the rate of secretion is affected quite markedly by certain hormonal changes in our bodies. So at certain times of our lives, the tap can really be turned up, and our sebum production goes into overdrive. One such time this happens is during the later stages of childhood, and this is the time of life that adolescent acne rears its ugly head. But hormonal changes are not restricted to puberty. Times of stress, pregnancy, illness or going through the menopause are also known to contribute to hormonal changes that trigger acne outbreaks.
How exactly does this sebum over-production create the condition of acne? Doesn't it just get washed away? On the whole, the answer is yes. The problem starts when blockages occur. Typically these blockages will be caused by tiny flakes of dead skin which block the pores and happen to all of us all the time – they usually work their way out. But when the flow of sebum is higher, the blockage can start to restrict flow to the outside and fill the hair follicle. We've all seen the whiteheads that appear on the top of a red spot – this is just such a blockage expanding in size. It is important to let the head run its course and not pop it as that can cause an infection.
Sometimes the blockage occurs deeper within the skin. This will lead to the more common blackhead, and these are more likely to develop into acne if and when the built-up fluid beneath it gets infected. Acne is the common name for the cysts, pustules and nodules that form beneath the surface of the skin and build up, resulting in the familiar redness and bumpy surface.
Acne is surrounded by tales and myths, such as it being caused by a poor diet or lack of exercise. While there is nothing wrong with improving one's diet and aiming for a more healthy lifestyle, and the theoretical reduction in illness and stress can help, they are the real direct causes. As stated earlier, it is hormones that trigger the increased production of sebum levels within our bodies and these are things of which we have no control. In other words, if you get acne, don't blame yourself.
Encouragingly, there is treatment for acne available. One of the most widely used is retinol, a form of vitamin A, which can return sebum production to normal levels. With medical supervision it is safe to use, and is typically the initial option for many people. If this doesn't work, however, a more direct approach can be investigated such as laser treatment to target the bacteria, hormones to normalise sebum production or antibiotics to deal with the bacterial infections themselves.
It's certainly not pleasant and it can be painful and irritating, but there are various options for anyone suffering from acne, and in many cases treatment is very effective.
Author Resource:-
Callum is a skin care expert and considers acne treatment to be effective and widely available now thanks to new advances. Callum also writes about anti-aging skin treatment and other procedures for a mix of publications.
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