Sunday, February 13, 2011

How To Banish Stubborn Chest Acne Forever

By Daryl B. Chapman


What is a Chest Acne?

Chest Acne is an acne vulgaris specifically located in the chest area. It is characterize by areas of the skin with blackheads and whiteheads (comedones), papules, pustules and nodules. Acne affects not merely the chest but to skin with dense sebaceous follicles plus the face and the back. It can manifests as inflammatory on non-inflammatory forms. The lesions of chest acne, similar to any other acne in the body are caused by changes in pilosebaceous units that consist of hair follicle and its related sebaceous gland.

What are the causes of chest acne?

Chest acne develops as a result of blockages in follicles. It commences with the process called hyperkeratinization. A plug of keratin, sebum (microcomedo) and dead skin is created in the sebaceous glands. Increase in sebum generation is influenced with increased androgen. A microcomedo may develop into open comedone (blackhead) or closed comedone (milia). What causes the inflammation is the P. acnes bacteria. When inflammation reaches deep in the dermis, unpleasant scarring and hyperpigmentation occur.

The following are the factors that can enhance the chances of a person to pick up chest acne:

Hormonal

Menstrual period is often linked to the appearance of chest acne. It is at these times that certain hormones are found in high level such as androgen, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and insulin-like growth factor 1. These hormones increase the production of oil, which then contributes to pore blockage.

Genetics

Susceptibility to acne can be inherited. It is linked with an earlier occurrence of acne and scarring.

Psychological

Stress contributes to acne flare.

Infection

As mentioned previously, P. acnes can cause inflammatory types of acne .

Diet

Foods that are high in glycemic can contribute to the occurrence of acne.

Tight Fitted Clothing

It is a primary contributory factor to chest acne. Tight fitted attire traps the sweat between the fabric and the skin, which leads to clogging of pores thus resulting to acne.

What are the likely treatment for acne in the chest?

Chest acne is hard to treat because of the thicker skin in the area, as compared to face. On the other hand, given the right treatment regimen, it can be managed. There are various ways to get rid of chest acne forever. It includes normalizing shedding into the pore to discourage blockage, killing P.acnes, anti-inflammatory effects and hormonal manipulation. These can be achieved by the following ways:

Topical Medications

To treat mild to moderate acne, products containing Benzoyl Peroxide are often prescribed. It is oftentimes combined with substance that exfoliates to increase shedding of skin preventing clogging of pores and killing bacteria causing the infection.

Oral Antibiotics

Different antibiotics are used for severe flare up of chest acne. It includes erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracyclines and minocycline that can destroy the bacteria P.acnes. Nevertheless, use of oral antibiotics must be regulated as developing resistance of P.acnes worldwide has been observed, in consequence oral antibiotics are becoming less effective.

Hormones

If acne flare coincides with menstrual cycle or during puberty, hormonal treatment is warranted.

Topical and Oral Retinoids

Retinoids help avert hyperkeratinization by influencing the cell creation and death life-cycle of cells in the follicular lining. A daily intake of oral retinoids over a period of 4-6 months can cause long-term resolution or reduction to acne by reducing the emission of oils from the glands. It is shown to be very effective in treating severe chest acne.

How to prevent acne development in the chest

Chest acne can be prevented by following some of the effective tips mentioned below:

1. Exfoliate regularly

2. Use mild soap in cleansing your face and body

3. Avoid wearing dirty and tight fitting clothing

4. Use bath soap that has exfoliating properties

5. If you have sensitive skin, avoid using scented creams and lotions

6. Keep bed linens clean

Acne is curable and there are various acne cures that you can experiment with. If you are experiencing this frequently encountered disease, do not hesitate to consult a dermatologist.




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