Acne Vulgaris

Acne

Acne Vulgaris (or simply known as acne)is a common human skin disease. There are 4 types of acne: comedones, nodules, and papules. The more common acne is face acne, but ordinary acne would be chest acne, back acne, as well as acne on the scalp, shoulders, neck, and on the upper arms. Most teens suffer from acne, but they all suffer at different ages. Although acne can be very severe, the proper treatment and good skin regimen can control acne and prevent it. Acne occurs when the pores of the skin become plugged with oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. 

Different Types

Comedonal Acne 

Comedonal Acne is skin-colored, small bumps(papules) frequently found on the forehead and chin of those with acne. Open comedones are blackheads because of the surface pigment(melanin).  Closed comedones are whiteheads: the follicle is completely blocked. Microcomedones are so small that they are not visible to the naked eye. Macrocomedones are facial closed comedones that are larger than 2-3 mm in diameter. A giant comedo is a type of cyst in which there is a clear blackhead-like opening in the skin. Lastly, solar comedones are found on the cheeks and chin of older people and are thought to be due to sun damage. A comedo is formed by the debris blocking the sebaceous duct and hair follicle. Some other causes of comedones are, excessive activity of the male sex hormonal 5-testosterone, free fatty acids, over hydrated skin, rupture of the follicle, smoking, certain dietary factors, and contact with certain chemicals. If one has Comedonal acne, he or she should choose oil-free cosmetics and wash twice daily with a mild soap and water. It is also best to stop smoking and to have a diet that is low in sugar, fat and  dairy products. Choose comedolytic topical medications. These should be applied once or twice daily to the area affected. It may take several weeks or months before improvement occurs.

Nodular Acne


Nodules are the large, painful bumps that appear during the later stages of acne breakouts. Nodules are large, raw, and sensitive to touch. Popping a nodule will only make it worse and causes scars. Aggravated nodules can cause deeper infections in the skin and grow bigger. Acne nodules may form when too much oil is produced. The oil may mix with bacteria and dead skin cells causing mild forms of acne or more serious forms. Some home remedies for nodular acne may be vitamins and minerals. They can reduce the the swelling of nodules, remove the bacteria and get rid of the toxins produced from the bacteria. Tra tree oil and aloe Vera are also two examples of home remedies. They help kill off the bacteria and heal the skin. The most popular drug that dermatologists use to treat nodular acne is cortisone which is injected into the nodules. Cortisone is great for nodular acne because it is a treatment for inflammation, skin disease, and swelling. 

Papules


Papules are small bumps that appear on the skin and have a rough texture. Papules occur when the wall of a hair follicle break and cave in. Papules would be classified as moderate acne. Papules are closed, red and surrounded by skin inflammation. This type of acne begins when sebum, a type of oil  
Released into hair follicles, clogs the follicle and becomes trapped. There are plenty treatments for papules, but the most common and best acne treatments for papules are benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Benzoyl peroxide is an organic peroxide that kills bacteria on the skin's surface and deep in pores. Benzoyl Peroxide also reduces excess oil which is one of the main causes of acne. Salicylic Acid is a mild acid that helps unclog pores from dead skin cells on the skin's surface. It also shrinks the pore's diameter and help prevent it from being blocked again.  There are more organic ingredients, but these are the top two to use when treating papules.

Results From Acne Survey

1.Most were females=60%(9 out of 15 teens)

2.Most people had combination skin=47%(7 out of 15 teens)

3.Most are African American=60%(9 out of 15 teens)

4.Most have episodic acne=73%(11 out of 15 teens)

5.Most rated their acne at a 2 (sometimes)=67%(10 out of 15 teens)

6.Most said their acne last for days=73%(11 out of 15 teens)

7.Most people do not use make-up=67%(10 out of 15 teens)

8.Most people do not used over-the-counter or prescribed medications=80%(12 out of 15 teens)

9.Most people's first outbreak was between the ages 12-13=53%(8 out of 15 teens)

10. Most were in their teens 14-18=100%(all of the teens)

11.Most people have home remedies they use=60%(9 out of 15 teens)
12.Most people feel that their acne is caused by Stress, Food, & Sugar=60%(9 out of 15 teens)
13.Most people do not just use soap and water, they have their own way of cleaning their face=67%(10 out of 15 people)

About 17 million people in the United States struggle from acne. From this survey I see that teens around my age struggle with acne. From my research and my servey, people suffer from the more common acne. Some things I learned from my research and survey was that other teens around my age go through the same things I go through with acne and most of the teens I survey do not use make-up. Also, I learned that we also feel our acne is triggered by food, stress, and sugar. From my research I learned that there are various types of acne, but the more common ones are blackheads, whiteheads, papules, and nodular acne. Acne can be triggered in different ways and there are many treatments for it, but one needs to know how to use it and how to prevent it. 

Works Cited

1.Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. "Seborrheic Dermatitis." Seborrheic Dermatitis. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 15 May 2013. Web. 15 July 2014.

2. "Exposed Acne Treatment." Acne Treatment. Exposed Skin Care, 2010. Web. 24 July 2014.

3. "Result Filters." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 25 Dec. 1986. Web. 24 July 2014.

4. "Exposed Skin Care." Scientific & Natural Actives: Exposed Acne Treatment. N.p., 2014. Web. 24 July 2014.

5. Youn SW. "The role of facial sebum secretion in acne pathogenesis: Facts and controversies." Clinics in Dermatology. 2010; 28(1): 8-11.

6. Kern, Daniel W. "What Is Acne?" What Is Acne? National Institute of Health, 1996. Web. 24 July 2014.

7. "Acne." Kids Health - the Web's Most Visited Site about Children's Health. Ed. Patrice Hyde. The Nemours Foundation, 01 June 2014. Web. 30 July 2014.

Sex Health Matters

Picture is a courtesy of : http://www.smsna.org/

by Daveon D.

As Teens mature they prepare for adulthood. They face many academic and social challenges. They deal also with their developing bodies, sexual pressures from peers, and alluring sexual messages from the media. When your body reaches a certain age, your brain releases a special hormone that starts the changes of puberty, called gonadotropin-releasing hormone or GnRH for short. If teens become sexually active at puberty, they are at risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. In sexual active teens and young adults, sexually transmitted diseases/infections are problematic.

Chlamydia is the most common (STD) in the U.S. and chlamydia rates have increased among 15-19 old's. HPV (human papillomavirus), another STD has been linked to cervical cancer risk. The strongest predictor for an STD diagnosis was an disorderly family; a family that is fatherless and misguided. Adolescents in these families were four times more likely to report being diagnosed with an STD. Young people who received no sex education tended to be black from low-income non-intact families and rural areas. Despite a continuous effort by many agencies to spread information about sexually transmitted diseases, they continue to affect a large percentage of the population in the U.S. And a lot of those affected is of the young population.

HIV is the virus associated with AIDS . It can only be transmitted by an exchange of bodily fluids including semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk, and blood. It cannot be transmitted by casual contact. Most people with HIV are treated with a combination of drugs known as highly active anti-retroviral therapy or HAART. Even though this cannot cure the disease, it can reduce the chances that it will progress into AIDS. HIV is no longer a death sentence because many people with the virus are living long and productive lives.

Condoms are highly effective against the most dangerous of sexually transmitted infections—HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. They are also effective against unintended pregnancy as well as against gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis. Condoms also help with a lower rate of cervical cancer, an HPV-associated disease. It's important that sexually active youth have access to condoms to protect their health and their lives. America we must wake up . Use protection!!  Condoms HELP ! All you got to do is use it.  Simple.