Do you have problems with acne? Well, you’re not the only one; everybody gets acne to one degree or another. It’s one of the most common skin conditions, and can be seen in 80-90% of teenagers. It spontaneously resolves after 4 or 5 years in about 70% of people, but approximately 30% of people continue with their acne into adult life. This problem can be solved with the right dermatological treatment and also with the right acne skin care products, just as long as you won’t let it run your life.

ACNE IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON SKIN DISEASES

     Acne affects at one time or another 85% of people 12 to 25 years old. This means that 8 out of 10 young people around you has or has had to struggle with acne, its psychological and social negative effects. Acne is most dangerous to teenagers because it affects them at a time when they are undergoing very important physical, emotional and social changes and thus can leave painful scars. Many acne sufferers have a tendency to isolate themselves from society and purposely avoid their friends and family because they are overwhelmed with feelings of embarrassment, depression, low self-esteem, frustration and worthlessness. All these can be serious enough to affect mental performance and daily living; acne is what causes millions of people to purposely miss dates, social gatherings, classes, job interviews, work and, in rare cases, even suicide.
Although acne is not considered to be a dangerous disorder, its psychological effects can be quite profound as acne affects the most visible parts of our bodies. The fact is that psychological scarring caused by acne can last forever so it’s important that we learn how to control this negative process.

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

     So what can be done? The first step is accepting the idea that acne will have a negative effect on your life mostly because society judges you by your appearance. You need to let the people around you know how your acne makes you feel. Your family, friends, co-workers have to understand the effects that acne is having on you. You should also discuss the myths and realities about acne. Let people know that it is not because of your bad eating habits, poor personal hygiene, or anything else which may lead to the idea that it is your fault that you have acne. People need to know that acne is not your fault.
     Acne is an Autosomal (dominant characteristic gene) inherited disease. Although people may be tempted to blame these eruptions on chocolate or greasy hamburgers but there is no significant evidence to support these statements and many of the other myths about acne. Here are some false ideas on acne:„Dirty skin and hair on your forehead cause acne”, „Acne is a teenage disease”, „Acne scars will disappear with time”, „Chocolate and greasy foods cause acne”, „No treatment works”, „Sexual frustration and thoughts cause acne”. In reality acne is caused by an excess production of oil in the sebaceous glands. The causes of acne are not limited to a portion of population; it effects all races, ages and genders, and can be one or a combination of the following: genetics, hormones, oil based cosmetics, prescribed medications, stress, physical irritation, humidity, environmental pollution.
     It's well known that teenagers are particularly unlucky when it comes to acne. But it's not just a problem for adolescents. Acne is a common problem for many people that are in their 20s and 30s, sometimes people get acne for the first time as adults.

THE NUMBERS SAY EVERYTHING

     Of the 85% of teenagers (between the ages of 12 and 24) that suffer from acne, 25% will have permanent scars. The American Dermatologist Association found that 20% of all adults have active acne, 60 million Americans have active acne, 20 million Americans have serious acne that will leave scars, and only 11% of all sufferers seek help!
     Some of the first clinicians to discuss the psychosocial impact of acne were Sulzberger and Zaidens in 1948 who said, "There is no single disease which causes more psychic trauma and more maladjustment between parents and children, more general insecurity and feelings of inferiority, and greater sums of psychic assessment than does acne vulgaris.”

1 METHOD, 2 METHODS, 3 METHODS... I DON'T CARE, JUST KILL IT!

     Acne and depression can be reduced by good nutrition because what we eat has a profound effect on our skin. Depressed people are often poor eaters and should be encouraged to eat healthy food. You must learn to have a healthy diet first. Studies have shown that consuming fish oil and omega 3 essential fatty acids increases brain serotonin neurotransmitter which help alleviate depression. Many people exaggerate and consume large amount of oils thinking that it will cure them faster. Even these healthy oils can worsen acne if taken in larger amounts than recommended.
     So you should never resume to one or two methods of controlling your acne. For example, if you use anti-acne products, but you have a poor diet, then the products won’t have much effect. You should think of all these methods as a “whole”, therefore take into consideration not one, but all of them. The only natural method in combating acne is doing it all together – exercise, diet, taking supplements, etc.

TO BE ACNE, OR NOT TO BE ACNE

     Never rely solely on nature to take its course and your skin to cleanse itself with time. Sometimes it happens, but sometimes it doesn’t. A lot of today’s adults suffering from acne had the same old & common thoughts on acne: “I’ll pass...” Guess what? It didn’t! So don’t think twice, and take action now!

CHART

will see a physician		11%
will go to a skin care center		20%
will use an over-the-counter medication from a drug store or pharmacy		30%
will do nothing		39%

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