Most of us probably don’t give much thought to our sebaceous glands. And why should we? When they’re working as they should do they perform just like the countless other body parts, oiling the machine that is the human being. In the case of these particular body parts, however, the oiling idea can be taken a little more literally. That’s because sebum, the substance that the sebaceous glands secrete, is an oily, waxy fluid that slowly and microscopically oozes out, keeping our skin lubricated and stopping it from drying, as well as producing a barrier to bacteria on the skin, which it does in conjunction with sweat and other secretions.

Unfortunately, the rate of secretion is affected quite markedly by certain hormonal changes in our bodies. So at certain times of our lives, the tap can really be turned up, and our sebum production goes into overdrive. One such time this happens is during adolescence, and this is the time of life that acne is most commonly associated with. But hormonal changes are not restricted to puberty. Times of stress, pregnancy, illness or going through the menopause are also known to cause the hormonal changes that trigger acne outbreaks.

But how does an increase in sebum production cause acne? Doesn’t it just get washed away? On the whole, the answer is yes. The problem starts when blockages occur. Typically these blockages will be caused by tiny flakes of dead skin which are unavoidable and happen to all of us all the time – they usually work their way out. But when the flow of sebum is higher, the blockage will start backing up much more quickly and fill the hair follicle. We’ve all seen the whiteheads that occur on the top of a red spot – this is just such a blockage effectively inflating. It is important to let the head run its course and not pop it as that can cause an infection.

Sometimes the blockage is deeper, however. This will manifest itself as a blackhead, and these are more likely to develop into acne if and when the built-up fluid beneath it gets infected. Acne is the common name for the cysts, pustules and nodules that form under the surface of the skin and build up, resulting in the familiar redness and bumpy surface.
Acne is surrounded by myths, such as it being caused by a poor diet or lack of exercise. While there is nothing wrong with improving one’s diet and fitness, and the theoretical reduction in illness and stress can help, they are not directly causative factors. As we have seen, the hormonal changes that trigger the increased production of sebum happen within our bodies and are largely out of our control. In other words, if you get acne, don’t blame yourself.

Encouragingly, there is treatment for acne available. One of the most widely used is retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, which can return sebum production to normal levels. With medical supervision it is safe to use, and is the usual first treatment method. Failing this, however, a more direct approach can be taken such as laser treatment to target the bacteria, hormones to normalise sebum production or antibiotics to deal with the bacterial infections themselves.

It’s certainly not pleasant and it can be painful and irritating, but there is plenty of hope for anyone suffering from acne, and in many cases treatment is a matter of routine.

Author Bio: There are various acne treatment options available and skin treatment clinics have experts to advise on individual choices. Sue writes about the subject and helps patients decide between anti-aging skin treatment options.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
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