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To understand why AcnEase is so effective as a teen acne treatment, you should read the background of acne, and how we've developed this new teen acne treatment.
Acne is a disease of the sebaceous hair follicles. At the base of each hair follicle is a gland called the sebaceous gland, which makes sebum. Sebum is an oily substance, which under normal circumstances travels along the hair follicle to the surface of the skin. Sebaceous glands are most numerous on the face, chest, back, neck and scalp; consequently, these are the most common sites of acne.
In acne, the normal transport of sebum out of the follicle is impeded which leads to an accumulation of sebum providing an enriched breeding ground for bacteria. Cleansing with soap is not capable of removing the bacteria entrapped at the base of the hair follicle. The rapid growth of the bacteria in combination with the accumulated sebum cause the follicle to enlarge and can result in a mild form of acne called comedones (blackhead, open comedone or whitehead, closed comedone) both of which are non-inflammatory. Acne may progress to an inflammatory type of acne lesions that are red in color called papules, pustules and nodules. Papules are the earliest stage in the development of what are normally considered the typical "pimple". Papules are an intermediate in the progression of acne between the non-inflammatory and inflammatory stages.
The most common factors that cause acne:
The next stage is the development of a clearly inflammatory lesion called the pustule, which contains limited number of bacteria and pus below the surface of the skin. Nodules or cysts are the most advanced and severe form of acne. Nodules result when the contents of a comedone expand from the follicular region to the surrounding tissue causing a local inflammatory reaction that may damage the skin
Most cases of acne that require treatment occur in individuals 9 to 19 years of age. Boys and girls are equally affected but the condition is usually more severe in boys. No ethnic groups are predisposed to acne, but certain cultural practices, such as the use of oily grooming agents can lead to a specific pattern of lesions. Internal factors that may cause adolescents acne include endogenous hormones (androgens, progesterone) and specific drugs (oral contraceptives, isoniazid, phenytoin, corticosteroids, lithium-containing compounds).
External factors include skin bacteria, especially Propionibacterium acnes; industrial chemicals (petroleum, animal and vegetable oils); oil- or wax-containing cosmetics; greasy sunscreen or suntan preparations; and local pressure from objects such as headbands, shoulder pads, or helmets. Excessive perspiration and emotional stress can also aggravate acne.
Androgens (testosterone) will increase the size of sebaceous glands and in people prone to acne increase the production of sebum. Pores can become clogged with dead skin, sebum and bacteria leading to the formation of a micro-comedone (microscopic lesion).
In women fluctuations in estrogen during the menstrual cycle change the sensitivity of sebaceous glands to androgens. During puberty the skin cells lining the follicle shed more quickly, mix with the increased levels of sebum and increase the likelihood of the pores becoming clogged.
The clogged pore replete with sebum provides an ideal environment for the rapid growth of skin bacteria; Propionibacterium Acnes (P. acnes) which secrete chemicals into the skin that stimulate an inflammatory response.
The first step in treating teenage acne is aimed at educating teenagers about the nature of acne, the necessity to treat and prevent the formation of acne and some general principals of hygiene and warnings about avoiding manipulation of individual lesions. "Picking" or "popping" pimples only increases inflammation and the potential for scarring.
An integral part of the successful management of adolescent acne is good hygiene. Adolescents (especially males) between the ages of 12 and 14 years often lack basic information about skin care. Acne is not a problem of dirt on the skin, as many people believe. Twice-daily washing is sufficient. More frequent use of water, soap and harsh cleansers can cause over-drying and rebound secretion of sebum. A mild, non-medicated soap is usually the best. Strong deodorant soaps, which are effective on the body, can be too irritating to facial skin. Abrasive sponges or cloths (such as the popular "buff puff") will cause microscopic abrasions and open the "gates" for the entry of bacteria. Astringents containing alcohol or higher levels of salicylic acid, may increase skin dryness and sometimes worsen skin irritation and inflammation.
Currently there are no FDA approved drugs to treat the causes of acne nor products that cure acne. Readily available Over The Counter (OTC) products are topical and only address the overt clinical manifestation of Acne (pimples). With the exception of Accutane, which helps to decrease sebaceous gland secretions, systemically administered acne treatment drugs are restricted to broad-spectrum antibiotics, which non-specifically kill bacteria associated with acne.
Systemic use of retinoids (Accutane) is often considered the "last option" for the treatment of acne due to its numerous side effects and in particular its teratogenic potential in women and inducement of depression in young men.
Information derived from the 2010 Physicians Desk Reference. Revised by Herborium Group, Inc., 2011. 1 Accutane has been reported to cause severe depression especially in young men 2 Products in categories C and B relating to pregnancy should only be used after consulting your physician
The first strategy is the use of antibiotics such as tetracycline and minocycline, that kill the microbes associated with acne. These products are either administered either topically or orally. The oral antibiotics in particular are not specific for acne and have systemic effects and side effects. The indiscriminate use of antibiotics is being strongly discouraged in the medical field due to the increasing appearance of bacterial resistance.
For severe, persistent cases of acne, Retin-A (tretinoin) Cream or Accutane (isotretinoin) oral tablets are often recommended. Both products are retinoid derivatives and have a multitude of side effects. Accutane is a known potent teratogen and strictly contraindicated in women not practicing a proven method of birth control.
The second strategy includes the use of topical cleansing or drying agents, and topical retinoids. Only the retinoids are thought to directly effect the over-secretion of the sebaceous glands, which is considered the primary cause of acne. They have numerous side effects such as dryness, redness, sun restrictions, skin discolorations etc.
Topical treatments such as Benzoyl peroxide available over-the-counter in preparations of 2.5% to 10% strengths in forms of liquid, lotion, cream or gel target bacteria in the skin. Salicylic acid products, are also available over-the-counter and have the same temporary cleansing yet not treatment effect.
Acne pimples start to develop in pores that become clogged with excess sebum (skin oil) made by the sebaceous glands. As the pores become clogged with the excess skin oil they also trap dead skins cells that normally rise to the surface of the skin to be sloughed off.
Propionibacterium acnes is a tiny microbe that lives in the oily region of the skin's pores. These bacteria can aggravate an immune response which causes red, swollen bumps to develop on the skin (acne). With excess sebum, dead skin cells and some dirt, this bacteria also gets trapped in the pores and as the body attempts to kill them using its immune system; you get a local inflammatory response due to cytokines, chemokines and white blood cells entering the area.
Normally the pore is “walled off” by the cells in the lower layers of the skin but in the case of cysts, this inflammation spreads under the top layer of the skin. This influx of cells and proteins causes swelling (bumps under the skin) and can be very harmful to the skin. If you try to squeeze these bumps, you induce more skin damage, which recruits more immune cells into the area and starts a vicious cycle that ends up damaging skin and leaving scars. As a result, treatment of cystic acne is more difficult and will take longer. It is especially important that cystic acne is not “popped” as this may only spread the bacteria, cause additional (and sometimes really serious) inflammation and lead to deep skin damage that may result in acne scars.
Doctor approved and clinically proven AcnEase®, all herbal, novel treatment for acne, has shown to be very effective in cases of cystic acne since it contains ingredients that both break the cycle of acne and also work as moderate anti-bacteria and anti-inflammatory agents. Nevertheless, in case of cystic acne, even AcnEase needs to be used longer than if you are someone who suffers from a non-inflammatory type of acne.
For cystic acne, we recommend the severe acne regimen, and we strongly encourage our users to stick to the regimen without exceptions or missing doses.
You also need to make certain you do not further clog pores with topical agents nor apply agents which irritate your skin further causing over drying that will produce more dead skin cells and therefore an aggravating inflammatory reaction.
Finally – as cysts take the longest time to treat, you may need to be patient and stick to the regimen for more than the minimum recommendation of one month. AcnEase® will prevent more sebum from forming, but your body needs to heal the damaged tissue. By preventing more pimples from forming with AcnEase®, you can achieve this goal.
Acne breakouts are often triggered by hormonal activity and especially by fluctuating androgens (male hormones that are produced and needed by both females and males.
Androgens help us to deal with stress and physical efforts and are one of the important factor in developing sexual drive but…if produced in too much quantity and getting to our blood stream in a free form in too high percentage they may cause number of problems including overstimulation sebaceous glands… first step to acne. During adolescence our body “ learns” how to produce the right amount of hormones so teens often experience hormonal imbalance that may trigger acne. In addition there is also a difference between how likely boys and girls will produce too much androgens ( testosterone). and experience acne. Teenage boys tend to have more severe acne than teenage girls. That’s because their bodies generate a lot of testosterone during puberty, which is one of the main hormones responsible for acne.