Acne Vulgaris and Its Origin
Since the follicular walls in the pilo-sebaceous unit is intact before adolescence, it has been postulated that if colonization of Proprionibacterium acnes happens in sufficient quantities they produce antigenic molecules that promote the initiation of inflammation. Proprionibacterium acnes is able to produce proteinases, lipase, and hyaluronate lyase all of which can serve as the accelerators or promoters of the inflammatory infiltrate which is made of neutrophils and lymphocytes.
The key player in the cause of acne in adolescence is hormones. At this stage androgens interact with receptors on the sebaceous glands and cause stimulation of the sebaceous gland to hypertrophy and hence induce more sebaceous synthesis of lipids and free fatty acids which distend the follicular conduct. More specifically, there is evidence for enhanced peripheral metabolic transformation of the androgen testosterone to dihydrotestosterone at the level of the skin in people having acne.
How Acne Forms
The basic lesion in this condition called acne vulgaris is the comedo. When exposed to oxygen the comedo becomes dark and creates what you know as a blackhead. The comedo is made by retention of layers of dead skin known as keratin in the walls of the follicles. In addition to hyperkeratosis (which is thickening or trapped layers of keratin), there is an aggregation of sebum. The combination of the keratin and the sebum produces a plugging of the opening of the follicular conduct, and papules are made by inflammation around the comedones. Depending upon the degree of inflammation, cars, cysts, nodules, granulomatous reactions, pustules, and keloids can develop.
Inflammatory Response
Airborne contamination and other toxic materials further aggravate the inflammatory response. As microbes start to grow inside the blocked pore your immune system responds by releasing granulocytes and macrophages, which are groups of white blood cells that destroy the microbes. The inflammation process is necessary to get rid of the continuing effects of excess bacteria and signal the body to repair the damage to tissues. Often times the immune response system can't stop the reproduction of acne bacteria due to lack of leukocytes or an impaired system.
Activity of the Sebaceous Gland
When a comedo is clogging the outlet of the sebum ducts, the sebaceous glands continue to produce sebum, which accumulates in the sebum conduct augmenting the comedo in size. The expansion in size produces pressure and leads to a further intense inflammation response in the nearby skin and creates swelling, redness, discomfort, and a mass (pimple, redhead, acne papule).
Growth of Acne Bacteria
The above conditions encourage the growth of microbes and result in infection inside the duct, the sebaceous gland, and nearby tissue. The commencement of the infection produces further inflammatory alterations, therefore beginning a cycle of accentuated blockage of the outflow of sebum which leads to even more pressure, inflammation, and progressing infection making cysts and pustules to occur. The effect on skin tissues caused by these infections is very damaging and the healing process commonly results in a scar.
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Published February 15th, 2008
Filed in Teen

