ACNE 101 - THE DISEASE.

Who gets acne?

Acne affects teens and young adults in their 20’s, as well as adults in their 30’s & 40’s. The areas typically affected are the face, neck, shoulders, chest & back.

There are several external factors that can cause acne:
– greasy cosmetics.
– environmental irritants, such as pollution & high humidity.
– pressure from headbands and chin straps.
– certain drugs such as androgens, lithium & barbiturates.
The primary cause of acne, however, is hormonal changes in adolescence.

The disease is not just a physical one, it has a definite psychosocial impact, causing social withdrawal, poor body image, decreased self-esteem, depression, feelings of frustration and anger, embarrassment and preoccupation with appearance.