Childhood Acne
Acne is a disorder of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands.
The sebaceous glands secrete sebum, which gives the skin its oiliness, which is channeled there through the thousands of pores we have on the face, neck, back and chest. When a larger amount of sebum is produced, it accumulates in the pores, trapping dead cells and thus creating a mixture that clogs the pores. The result is the creation of acne, which can lead to swelling of the pores and rupture of their walls. If this happens, then some bacteria that are normally present in the surrounding skin (propionebacterium acnes) enter the pores and cause inflammatory acne lesions.
The causes
Acne is a very common disorder that affects most children aged 11 and over, usually, but it is not uncommon for it to appear in a milder form at younger ages. The causes that cause acne are not completely understood. It is certainly linked to the hormonal changes that occur during puberty, the increase in androgens, the use of cosmetics that can clog pores, humidity and the use of corticosteroids, especially when this is done on a daily basis in the form of a cream.
The treatment
The treatment that the patient may receive depends on various factors such as age, the type of acne, and the patient’s general health.
The goal of treatment is to improve the overall appearance of acne and reduce the likelihood of scarring. The treatment includes daily washing of the affected area (face, back, chest) with special cleansers that help regulate sebum, local treatments with creams, gels help equally in mild-moderate acne, while in more serious situations, oral antibiotics, vitamin A derivatives and contraceptives give us very reliable options.
The complications of acne mainly concern emotional issues as reduced self-confidence, intense stress and depression are very common findings in chronic acne. Also, very severe acne with the appearance of multiple cysts carries the risk of scarring.
Acne is a disorder that persists for a long time. Therefore, it would be good for children to know its course so that they can adopt a skin care routine that can last for a while, reducing the chances of adverse reactions.
