Back Acne and Your Doctor
The causes of itchy back acne are not fully grasped, but we realize a bit of the biology behind it. The
main culprit is the excess output of an oily substance called sebum whose function is to keep skin and hair lubricated and supple. During the
teenage years, the body often maufactures excess amounts of sebum. The sebum mixes with naturally occurring dead skin cells to block hair
follicles which forestalls the sebum from breaking loose.
The resulting block up of oil below the surface of the skin provides an complete surrounding for bacteria. The bacteria multiply and the skin
area becomes red and inflamed inducing what is normally called a pimple.
Acne seems to be partly hereditary, but we don't figure exactly why some people are affected by it and others are not. some of the agents
which seem to exacerbate acne problems include stress, diet, skin irritation, certain treatments, and hormonal rhythms such as menstrual
cycles.
Dietary links seem to be mostly linked to skim milk derivitives. Many people associate food like chocolate and fast food with pimples, but
there is no statistical findings that this type of food induces or exacerbates acne.
Ingredients you may see in acne medications include resorcinol and sulphur. Resorcinol causes the top layer of skin to peel -- including the
dead skin cells which clog the pores. It is often combined with sulphur. It is not known how sulphur affects acne conditions, but it has been
used effectively for more than 50 years.
In the case of mild to moderate back acne cases, this condition can be treated with
over-the-counter acne medications, cleansers, and even homeopathic treatments. An effective treatment designed especially for
body and back acne is ZENMED's Body Acne Combo. It uses botanicals and natural ingredients, rather than the harsher chemicals found in many other
treatments that end up just irritating the affected skin.
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