Acne sebum

While the name itself might have a comical ring to it, acne sebum is hardly amusing to people who are familiar with it will understand how there is very little to laugh about. Sebum is the root of acne, acting as an irritant that clogs your pores and results in pimples and pustules. Sebum is like a toxic cocktail comprised of: glycerides, free fatty acids, cholesterol, cholesterol esters, squalene, and wax esters. Doesn't sound like a very appetizing cocktail, does it?

Sebum is responsible for reducing water loss from the surface of your skin, protecting the skin from infection-causing bacteria and fungi, contributing to body odor, and is thought to play a part in immune regulation. Considering sebum's normal functions, it doesn't seem like it is really such a bad thing. Unfortunately, certain factors cause sebum to go out of whack and become a nuisance to our skin.

There are glands in every hair follicle or pit of skin in our bodies called sebaceous glands. They are responsible for producing oils - sebum - that keep our skin moisturized and soft. However, bacteria multiplies and becomes inflamed if this oil finds itself trapped beneath the skin's surface. This then clogs the pores and causes acne to form.

Keeping your skin clean and refraining from using cosmetics products that may clog your pores might improve your condition somewhat but sometimes you may have to put a bit more effort into the upkeep of your skin. Just by washing your face, you may not be improving your battle with sebum much. Another helpful tip in keeping the sebum production down is to regularly exfoliate your skin. This will remove dead skin cells and help to rejuvenate your skin. Taking hormonal treatments has also been proven successful in keeping sebum under control.

If you have tried just about everything to get rid of your acne and get a handle on your sebum but haven't been successful, you might want to consider seeing a physician or dermatologist for advice. This will also give you peace of mind in knowing that your sebum isn't being caused by an unidentified illness or disorder.

Contrary to popular belief, acne is not caused by eating greasy foods like hamburgers, potato chips, and french fries. According to dermatologists, acne sebum doesn't increase if you indulge in sweets like chocolates, parfaits, and cakes. While controling the amount of junk food you injest will probably have a positive affect on your overall diet and health, it might do nothing to help your acne situation.

Other myths regarding acne include:

- Stress is a factor (There is actually no scientific proof linking stress directly to acne, although it can aggravate the condition of existing acne)

- Acne is related to bad hygiene (Since the sebum forms below the surface of the skin, washing your face 10 times a day won't make much of a difference. It may actually worsen your acne condition if you use harsh soaps or scrub too hard)

- Diet affects acne (This has never been scientifically proven)

- Acne is only a cosmetic problem (Acne - and the way it is or isn't treated - can leave permanent scars)

- Acne goes away on its own (Not necessarily. Many cases of acne require a professional's advice and medicated treatment to avoid scarring.

If you are suffering from acne and overactive sebaceous glands, you might feel very restricted with what you can do, places you can go, and what you can eat. There really is no need to feel this way because the oil that the sebaceous glands are producing won't be affected if you decide to go out on a date, wear makeup, or enjoy a grease-laden pepperoni pizza. In fact, by stressing over all the possible unproven factors that could either cause acne or make it worse, you're just going to make yourself feel more miserable on the inside. Instead of fretting over things that are out of your control, try to manage the ones that you are able to positively influence.

While makeup won't necessarily make your acne worse, certain cosmetics will clog your pores and damage the surface area of your skin so choose natural products that aren't going to increase oil production or dry your skin. Continue to enjoy your daily activities as you normally would, like going out to social events and not being afraid to show your face in public. Although acne can cause many people to feel very self-conscious and depressed, hiding indoors will make matters worse and only make you feel lousier and increase your stress. That increased stress might make your existing acne worse. Since there is no scientific proof to chase you away from the foods you love, allowing yourself to curl up in front of the TV every now and then with some ‘comfort foods' may actually make you feel much better.

Don't forget that there are many options available for concealing, preventing, or getting rid of acne. In order to better research ways of dealing with acne and the annoying sebum that causes it, you can visit one of the many informative sites available online or consult a skin specialist that will have a better understanding of how to successfully cope with acne.