Teenage acne during puberty is common due to the increasing levels of hormones typical of this period. It can also continue into adulthood or appear later in life. Severity levels include cystic acne, which consists of a more severe reaction than a typical pimple. Cysts are red and infected, and subsequently, filled with pus as part of the body's germ fighting response.

Acne and its manifestations can be socially traumatizing. Acne sufferers often go to great lengths to hide disfiguring acne lesions. Severe acne can be particularly distressing and can cause low self-esteem as appearance is particularly important during adolescence.

The Role of Hormones in the Manifestation of Severe Acne

During puberty, androgens, or the sex hormones comes into full force. These androgens cause the sebaceous gland to crank out more sebum. Men have more testosterone than women. For this reason, during puberty, teenage men produce more sebum than women.

Hormonal imbalance, whether it be due to genetics, stress, puberty or perhaps an adrenal disorder, causes the amount of sebum produced to increase. More sebum is the reason for acne. Why? The sheer amount of sebum being secreted from the sebaceous glands through the follicle to ultimately reach the surface of the skin damages the cells of the sebum ducts. The resulting inflammation is viewed as acne lesions.

Severe Acne Treatment

Now that the common myths for acne causes have been dispelled, you can discover a better treatment among the many acne creams and systems. You need more than just an antibacterial face wash or an exfoliating lotion. Although bacteria and keratin buildup add to acne, solutions focusing on these factors miss the most important cause.

Find an acne treatment cream that focuses on decreasing sebaceous gland activity. You can scrub or disinfect all you want but that will not prevent the inflammation caused from within.

Alternative Methods to Improve Success

Dealing with severe acne can involve more than just a topical or ingested treatment. Special psychologists trained in dealing with the mind-body connection in acne are available to help you deal with severe acne and your self-image. As the skin is distressed by changes in emotions and the nervous system, acne is exacerbated by stress. By taking care of emotional issues related to having severe acne, you can prevent these triggers that can spawn new acne breakouts.

Additionally, adding exercise to your daily routine can help you control your acne. Working out increases blood circulation, which carries more oxygen to the skin. Additionally, regular exercise improves mood and naturally decreases stress, ultimately bettering one's personal self view.

Sleep also plays an important role in emotional health and acne. Sleep loss causes additional and unnecessary stress to the body, worsening acne. Additionally, use relaxation techniques to fully rest the body.

All of these suggestions can help you keep your stress levels down. Stress affects the immune and endocrine systems, and can have drastic effects on your acne. Become acne free by managing your stress.