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Show Something To Do About Acne Most people outgrow acne, the bane of 80 percent of the population between the ages of 12 and 23. But acne should not be ignored as something that will eventually even-tually go away. Acne can leave permanent scars if not treated, and many individuals suffer from it well into their late 20s and 30s. Dermatologists are seeing more adult acne patients. It's unclear whether adult acne is on the rise or if patients simply are more concerned about acne and more aware of the many treatments available today. Acne is promoted by hormone changes that occur during puberty and result in the enlargement of oil glands in the skin. Many of these glands are located in the face there are about 2,000 oil glands per square inch on the forehead alone but also are numerous on the chest and upper back. The glands release oil through ducts that open into the hair pores. The hair pores (follicles) then transmit the oil to the surface. Acne occurs when the oil, along with skin cells and bacteria, fill up the openings and are retained. This results in blackheads, whiteheads, or, when the oil breaks through the ducts, pimples, and inflamed in-flamed cysts. "There is no instant cure for acne, but there also is a common misconception that nothing can be done about it," said Alan Shalita, M.D., professor and chairman of dermatology at State University of New York Health Science Center, Brooklyn, and a representative of the American Academy of Dermatology. "This is a terrible mistake. We can control con-trol acne, and ignoring it could result in scars that will be there long after the acne itself has disappeared," he said. Milder cases are often controlled by over-the-counter topical treatments, especially those containing an antibacterial anti-bacterial medication called benzoyl peroxide. More serious cases of acne require a doctor's attention. Dermatologists are physicians who specialize in diseases of the skin, including acne. Because acne has many forms, an individualized approach to treatment is important. Treatments in- C'MOH HONEY, ACNE CAM BE elude the use of chemicals to discourage blackheads and whiteheads, topical and oral antibiotics, injection of cortisone into in-to cysts, and sometimes, in female patients, estrogen therapy. These treatments treat-ments should be under a doctor's care. In 1982, a new oral medication called isotretinoin became available for treating severe cases of cystic acne. Because there are potential side-effects, including birth defects, it is used only in serious cases with careful medical monitoring. Some people react to certain foods, including in-cluding chocolate, with acne flare-ups. But in general, chocolate and other foods do not cause acne, as once believed. Though acne is not caused by dirt, as some people believe, keeping the face clean and free of oil is important. Only oil-free makeup should be used, and it should be thoroughly removed at night. The American Academy of Dermatology has a free brochure on acne. Send a self-addressed, self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Academy at 1567 Maple Ave. Evanston, 111. 60201. Ask for "Something Can Be Done About Acne." |