Acne (Causes + Symptoms + Treatment)

Acne

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All About Aging

Human aging is the accumulation of changes in an organism or object over time. It refers to a multidimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change. And aging skin is referred as physical or biological aging. Aging skin can cause by 2 factors, the intrinsic factor and extrinsic factor. Intrinsic aging, also known as the natural aging process, is a continuous process whereas extrinsic factor is aging process caused by external factor. The aging skin process is explained by genetic, metabolic, biochemical, and evolutionary theories.

Causes of Aging Skin

Intrinsic Aging

DNA Damage Theories
Every cell division the telomeres at the ends of chromosome are shortened by approximately 65 base-pairs. This contributes to accumulated damage to DNA which in turn inhibits cells' ability to function and express the appropriate genes. This leads to cell death and overall aging of human.
- DNA Damage/Repair Theory
- Free Radical/Oxidation Theory
- Mitochondrial DNA Theory
- Radiation Theory

Built-In Breakdown Theories
Aging is a direct consequence of genetic programming. The causes for aging are directly built into the genome and cellular structure, as a sort of molecular clock.
- Disposable Soma Theory
- Genetic Theory
- Immunological Theory
- Telomere Theory

Extrinsic Factor

Environmental Stress Factor (EFS)
The skin reacts to these environmental stress factors by producing free radicals. Research has shown that free radicals are responsible for premature aging and certain forms of cancer. The body's natural defense mechanisms, which include antioxidants, fight to destroy free radicals before they can cause cellular inflammation that leads to permanent damage. If excessive numbers of free radicals are produced they begin to overwhelm the body's natural defense mechanisms and the extensive cellular injury is no longer able to adequately heal. In the skin, this type of permanent injury goes on to form microscopic scars. As these tiny scars proliferate, a visible wrinkle forms and thus presents as an early visible sign of premature aging.

Sun Exposure
Much of the aging caused by external factors is due to sun exposure. The accumulation of daily sun exposure leads to premature aging of the skin and hastens the other skin aging causes such as intrinsic aging. Usually, signs of sun aging appear in the 20s for people in areas with a lot of sunshine. The sun can cause freckles, ages spots, spider veins or broken capillaries on the face (telangiectasis), rough and leathery skin, fine wrinkles, loose skin, irregular skin pigmentation, actinic keratoses (thick, warty, rough, reddish, growths), and skin cancer.
Aging caused by the sun (photo-aging), depends on the skin colour of the individual with fair-skinned people being more vulnerable than dark-skinned people. Dark-skinned individuals are usually only susceptible to wrinkles and skin mottling as a result of sun exposure.
The history of sun exposure and especially overexposure is also an important cause of skin aging. Damage caused by the sun is cumulative. Ultraviolet light acts to break down elastin and collagen in the skin and interferes with the production of new collagen.

Repetitive Facial Expressions
Repetitive facial expressions like squinting or facial exercises lead to fine lines and wrinkles. In fact, it is strongly believed that facial exercises cause more lines and wrinkles and are not an effective wrinkle prevention treatment. This is because grooves form beneath the skin surface when the facial muscles are used because of breakdown of the collagen. With aging, the ability of the skin to spring back decreases and the grooves develop into permanent lines and wrinkles. Frown lines (those lines between the eyebrows) and crow's feet (the lines that stem from the corners of the eyes) are common examples of this problem.

Gravity
Gravity is one of the skin aging causes that often goes unnoticed. The pull of the earth's gravity (although we don't feel it) is responsible for significant changes in our bodies as we age. This is especially the case around age 50 for skin. The skin has lost some of its elasticity and the skin begins to sag in facial areas and other parts of the body.

Smoking
Smoking is one of the more important skin aging causes that often gets overlooked. Smoking causes biochemical changes in the body that make skin age quicker than it should. Studies have shown that individuals smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day for more than 10 years are more likely to develop deep wrinkles and leathery skin. Yellowy skin on the overall body and on the fingers is another side effect of long-term smoking. The repetitive action of holding a cigarette between the lips leads to significant facial lines and wrinkles around the lip and chin areas.

To read more on Signs of Aging, click here

8 Types of Skin Problems

Skin conditions keep vary according to skin types, regions and age. Flawless skin is the result of inherited genes and appropriate skin care routines. The skin is vulnerable to skin problems, and the 8 types of skin problems as following:

1. Acne


2. Congestion


3. Open Pores


4. Sensitive


5. Aging


6. Scars


7. Discoloration


8. Dehydration

Acne

Acne is a common skin care problem for many individuals of all ages and all skin types. It is caused by blockage in hair follicle due to excess sebum secretion by sebaceous gland via testosterone stimulation and hyperkeratinization. This forms a plug of keratin and sebum, namely comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) to be the first level of acnes. While occurrence of bacteria can cause inflammatory lesions, they are pastules, cysts and nodules. Using bactericidal products containing benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid (AHA), salicylic acid (BHA) and tea tree oil may be useful in mild to moderate acne, combined with non-comedogenic moisturizer to prevent over-drying.

Congestion

Congested skin also refers as comedones or first level of acne problems. There are 2 types of comedones, closed comedone (white heads) and open comedone (blackheads). Both are non-inflammatory acne which forms due to the blockage of sebum and dead skin cells inside the hair follicle. Closed comedone remain beneath the skin surface and been de-oxygenated and hence remain whitish or yellowish colour. While open comedone occurs in open pores. The sebum has been oxidized and turned into brown or black colour. Products with AHA and BHA can help to dissolves the congested material. Regular exfoliation and product with oil control properties may help to prevent and improve congestion and clogged pores.

Open Pores

Enlarged pores are concern for many women of all ages and skin types, especially for those with oily and combination skin. This is due to the hormonal changes, previous acnes, skin congestion, dehydration and improper diet. UV exposure causes the skin cells to collect around the pores, meanwhile causes the breakdown of collagen and elastin. Hence, the pores begin to enlarge. Further ignorance will cause the pores become larger and larger and may be easily clogged which usually leads to congestion, acne and skin discolorations. Active ingredient such as L-ascorbic acid is very effective in refining open pores and improving skin resilience. As high concentration of L-ascorbic acid can cause dehydration, good moisturizing agents should be followed after the usage.

Sensitive

Sensitive skin can be caused by a genetic predisposition or by a lifestyle that lacks minerals and antioxidants. And these lead to reduced barrier function, heightened neurosensory function or increased immune responsiveness. Sensitive skin is thin and fine textured. It often feels tingly, tight, or uncomfortable without any visible signs of stress. Meanwhile it reacts quickly temperature changes, and become red and blotchy after contact with some detergents, fragrances, or alcohols that are used on the skin. Hence, people with sensitive and dry skin can be treated by avoidance of all soap or detergents. And many AHA products should be treated with caution, particularly glycolic acid products, as these will also aggravate skin dryness. While a moisturiser containing skin's physiological fatty acids, cholesterol and ceramides may increase skin barrier repair and functions.

Aging

There are 2 distinct types of aging contribute to aging skin. Aging caused by inherited genes is called intrinsic (internal) aging while extrinsic (external) aging is caused by environmental factors including photo-aging, smoking, facial expression, gravity etc. Aging skin can be categorized by the loss of collagen and elastin and decrease of skin turn-over rate. The signs of aging skin including fine wrinkles, thin skin, freckles, age spots and spider veins. Aging process cannot be stopped but the signs of aging can be reduced by products with active anti-aging ingredients such as Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-3, polypeptide, Acetyl hexapeptide, Hyaluronic Acid, and silk peptides.

Scars

Scars, also called cicatrices, are area of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin tissue after injury and is natural part of wound healing process. The body cannot re-build the tissue exactly as it was, so scar formed and have a different texture and quality than the surrounding normal tissue. Acne scar is form when wound healing takes place in the area of injured tissue due to inflamed acne. The greater the inflammation, the more likely scarring is to occur. There are treatments to expedite the fading process of acne scar from the skin such as Vitamin E, dermabrasion and collagen injection.

Discoloration

Skin Discoloration is referred as skin pigmentation abnormality where large portions of skin turn unusual shade, lighter or darker. It affects patches of skin or entire body. This results from several factors. Some are natural, such as birthmarks. Others are related to factors such as hormone, medication, and sun exposure which causes melanin (pigment substances) becomes damaged or unhealthy. Types of pigmentation problems are age spots, solar lentigines, freckles and Melasma spots. Products contain glycolic acid, bearberry extract, kojic acid, L-ascorbic acid, and licorice extract may help lighten the pigmentation by interrupting melanogenesis; and preventing erythema indued by UVB.

Dehydration

Dry skin, also referred as xerosis, is a condition of rough, dehydrated skin with fine scaling of skin and, occasionally, with small cracks in the skin.
Often itchy, dry skin is caused by environmental factors, such as sun exposure and frequent bathing, and by medical conditions, such as atopic dermatitis and malnutrition. Dry skin develops due to a decrease in the natural oils (ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids) in the outer layer of skin, which makes the skin lose water. Products with high concentration of hyluronic acid and essential amino acids can help bind moisture in the dermal connective tissue.


Different kinds of skin problems developed due to different causes and different products with specified ingredients which are specially designed for that particular problems should be use accordingly to solve the base of your problems.