What is acne?
Acne is one of the commonest medical conditions in the world. It occurs in about 90% of teenagers to some degree but unfortunately also continues well into adult life in some people, particularly women. Acne is a condition that affects the hair follicles, particularly in areas of the skin where the sebaceous glands (oil-producing glands) are most numerous, that is the face, back and chest.
There are two main type of acne lesion: comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) and inflamed lesions which are red (papules) or may contain pus (pustules). It is quite common for people and the media to trivialise acne, however to people affected it is no joking matter. People with acne are more likely to feel self conscious, have lower self esteem or even be depressed. Adults with acne often feel irritated that they continue to develop very visible so called ‘teenage spots’ on the face when they want to look good for social or professional engagements.