Acne
Tuesday, November 26, 2002

November has been set aside by the American Academy of Dermatology as Healthy Skin Month. In today’s Sixty Second Housecall, Dr. Ken Davis looks at one of the most common skin conditions—acne.

Acne affects 17 million Americans, including an estimated 85 percent of teenagers. Acne is a disorder that occurs when the sebaceous glands in a person's skin make too much oil, clogging the skin pores. This leads to pimples, whiteheads, or blackheads, which usually occur on the face, neck, shoulders, back, or chest.

Outbreaks of acne may be linked to hormones, genetics or bacteria. Acne is not caused by eating too much chocolate or oily foods.

The goal of treatment is to reduce or eliminate outbreaks and to prevent scarring. Most people can manage acne by good local skin care and use of over the counter medications. Some need prescription medications either orally, topically or both. Light therapy can be helpful in treating mild to moderate acne that has not responded to other treatments.

While all forms of acne cannot be prevented, you can do a lot at home to keep your acne from getting worse, including washing your skin every day, eating a balanced diet and getting adequate sleep. To learn more log on to wtva.com and click on Sixty Second Housecall. For North Mississippi Medical Center, I’m Dr. Ken Davis.