What is acne?

You wake up one morning to find your face covered in volcanoe-shaped eruptions and your wondering;

"What is this??"

Dermatologists and people within the medical circle call this disease acne; it is a common skin disease that has been around for hundreds of years, ranging all the way back to the times of the Greeks. It is caused by inflammation of the small oil glands, otherwise known as sebaceous glands that surround the fine hairs on the face and chest.More than 85% of teenagers suffer from it, so you’re not alone in your fight to beat acne! Acne can occour on many places on your body, the main areas are;

• Face - particulary the T-Zone
• Neck
• Shoulders
• Back
• Chest

But eruptions or outbreaks can occur anywhere on your body.

The T-Zone, as shown above, is the most sensitive area for acne as it is very oily, and is usually the first place for acne to take over. The second most common place is your back. Although for many acne gradually disappears over a period of time, for some it stays with them throughout their lives, some even develop it in their late 40's and 50's, this isn't surprising as at least 80% of the population will have acne in some time in their lifespan. Here are some facts;

• 85% of people between 12 and 24 will have had acne
• 25% of the 85% above will suffer from acne in places BESIDES their face, e.g. their back
• At least 40% of acne sufferers seek professional medical attention about their acne

Unfortunately many myths and legends have been tagged onto the acne disease, this makes it very confusing for people to know the different between fact and fiction, that is one of the reasons why this site was created, to clear up these myths and let the truth shine through! To find out the acne myths click this link; Acne Myths

Although there is NO CURE for acne, there are many treatments, such as;

• Oral medication
• Creams
• Lotions
• Therapies
• Techniques and tips

There are a wide variety of treatments out there, but you need to choose the right one, depending on your skin colour, the severity of your acne and the type of acne you have.

And although acne is not life-threatening, it can cause massive psychological effects, decrease self-esteem and cause social effects as the scars that are left as a reminder of bad times will stay with you for a long time, unless you get them removed; see Acne Scars for more information.