Medical Questions » Acne Questions » Question No. 1
| Question: | I have terrible zits on my face. Why do I get it more than my friends, and what can I do about it? |
| Answer: | Pimples, zits, spots, acne. It doesn' t matter what they are called, nobody likes to have them.
Pimples are due to a blockage in the outflow of oil from the thousands of tiny oil glands in the skin. This blockage can be due to dirt, flakes of dead skin, or a thickening and excess production of the oil itself. Once the opening of the oil duct becomes blocked, the gland becomes dilated with the thick oil, then inflamed and eventually infected.
The severity of your acne will depend greatly on your choice of parents. If one or both of them had severe acne, you have a good chance of developing the same problem.
The hormonal changes associated with the transition from childhood to adult life are the major aggravating factor in acne, as the hormones cause changes to the skin and thickness of the oil, and may worsen (or occasionally improve) acne.
Acne cannot be cured, but in the majority of cases, it can be reasonably controlled by doctors. You should ensure that your skin is kept clean with a mild soap and face cloth. Then some of the many creams and lotions available from pharmacists should be tried.
If the acne is severe to start with, or the over-the-counter preparations do not help, see your general practitioner. He or she will use antibiotics and. more potent skin preparations to more effectively control the problem.
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