Call now on 0113 282 3300

About acne

Oversimplifying Acne

About Acne »

In its simplest terms, the development of acne is easy to describe. A channel from which a hair follicle has emerged or is about to emerge becomes blocked. The sebaceous gland attached to the lower part of that follicle continues to produce its oily sebum. But since the clog stops the sebum from emerging, it stays inside the channel and expands into a balloon full of the stuff.

Before long, the sebum -warm, oily and nutritious - attracts bacteria and starts to putrefy. The result is a nasty pimple. Eventually, the pressure builds up so much that the pimple bursts and the mess erupts on to your skin. Or, worse, the clog may stay in place and the 'balloon' may rupture inwards. That is what nearly always happens, at least in part, when you try to pop a pimple. In either case, you are obviously helping to spread the germs to any other spots of sebum build-up - and, so, encouraging them to become infected more quickly.

However, that is only the short version of how acne proceeds. It is the form many experts, articles and books describe, and it is therefore the description many people recognize. But, while not wrong, it is a dangerous oversimplification. Because this 'short form' explanation sounds so seductively simple and logical, it leads to the view that a simple solution (miracle cure acne products from supermarkets and chemists) should solve the problem.

As we have explained, more often than not, the simple solution doesn't work. For the fact is that the progress of acne - and particularly the mechanism of its spread - is a good deal more complicated. And because it is, it needs a more sophisticated regime to cure it.

If you are interested in booking a FREE consultation for advice on the best treatments and products for your acne or acne scarring, please call us today on 01132 823 300 or complete an enquiry form.