Acne

Acne is a pustular infection of the skin, due to changes in the sebaceous glands. Excessive secretion of oils from the glands can cause the hair follicles to become blocked, and they suffer from bacterial infections which causes a pimple. The face, chest, back and upper arms are especially exposed. It is common in puberty as a result of an abnormal response to normal levels of male hormone, testosterone. For the acne sufferer this has a profound effect on the skin. The response for most people go over after time and the acne decreases continually. But there is no way to predict how long that will take, from years to up to decades for some individuals.

There is a myriad of products sold for the treatment of acne, many of them without any scientifically proven effects. Generally there is two types of treatments that has been proven effective:

• Killing the bacteria that is caused by the blocked follicles. Either by intake of anti-biotics like tetracyclines or treating the affected areas externally with bactericidal substances like benzoyl peroxide. Since the bacteria isn't the cause of acne but rather the effect of it acne will generally reappear months after finished treatment.

• Reducing the secretion of oils from the glands. This is done by a great dayly intake of Vitamin A derivates like isotretinoin over a period over a few months. Isotretinoin has been shown to be very effective in treating severe acne and is effective in up to 80% of the patients. The drug has a much longer effect than anti-bacterial treatments and will often cure acne for good. The treatment requires close medical examination by a dermatologist since the drug has many known bieffects. Most commonly is dry skin and nosebleed. It can also permanently damage the liver. The product is sold by Roche under the names Accutane in USA and Roaccutane in Europe.

Those exposed to high levels of chlorine compounds, particularly chlorinated dioxins, often develop severe, long lasting acne; this is known as Chloracne