February 2011
Acne is a curse…no one wants it!
It can affect anyone of any age, & there are different types of acne with different causes. There is no single cause for oily & acne prone skin. Acne can be inherent, genetic condition or can be caused by many different contributing factors.
Focusing on teenage acne there is a chain of events that lead to acne. The technical term is Retention Hyperkeratosis. At puberty the body starts producing testosterone. an enzyme in the skin changes the characteristic of the testosterone, this stimulates the sebaceous (oil) gland to begin to produce sebum (oil).
The very outer layer of your skin (Stratum Corneum) is 14 cell layers thick, & sheds one cell layer per day. This is the normal rate of “Keratosis” (cell turnover). There is an enzyme present in the skin that causes the release of these surface skin cells.
Inside the sebaceous follicle the same process happens & the cells that are shed are pushed up to the surface with the sebum. In an acne prone skin, a strange thing happens…. the cells shed 4 to 5 times faster than the normal rate of one per day. “Hyper”. In addition the cells tend to clump or stick together making it more difficult for them to be pushed to the surface. This “Retention” of a mass of sticky cells, called a microcomedone is the root of an acne problem.
These blockages deep down in the follicle become the perfect breeding ground for bacteria which then inflames into a pimple. Think of them as tiny invisible splinters in the skin. As with a splinter it may sit there for some time before it becomes red, swollen & infected.
There may be several different types of lesions that will vary from
The Acne Wave
Not all the sebaceous glands mature at the same time. During adolescence they start to mature & begin producing oil in a progression that moves across the face & body like a wave.
| First area | the central forehead & nose |
| Second area | the cheeks, upper back & upper chest |
| Last area | the oil glands of the jaw line, upper neck & lower back |
| Of course if it hasn’t been treated in the first and second areas, when the third area appears it is everywhere! | |
So now, what to do about it?
Understand the acne has been forming for quite a long time. Those tiny blockages deep in the follicle that could not even be seen were the beginning. By the time you have seen a “break out” it is well established.
It is exacerbated by junk food, dairy & wheat as they inhibit the function of the enzymes that cause the release of the dead cells.
The appearance damages self esteem which is very stressful. Stress increases Cortisol levels & this then increases the androgen levels which worsens the acne, so it is essential to deal with the appearance as quickly as possible.
There is no overnight “quick fix”
We use & recommend Danné Montague King home routine & treatments & back them with a 100% guarantee provided they are used exclusively & according to the treatment plan. We examine the skin & prescribe:
The commitment to the programme is well worthwhile.
| "I am truly grateful to Sasi Skin Spa and their knowledgeable and caring therapists. I began my journey with the salon 18 months ago when my then 15 year old son was suffering from acne on his face, neck, shoulders and back..." READ MORE |
DMK (Danné Montague King) Acne
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