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 Dear What's the Problem? Most of us have suffered from skin complaints of one sort or another, from rashes to acne. My experience has been acne. Why are these skin conditions so common and what can we do about them? Ola Animashawun, Presenter on What’s the Problem? Advice: Dr Susie Morris We don't really know why there are more instances of eczema in the world today - one theory is that because today we vaccinate against infectious diseases - such as measles and mumps - the body’s own natural immune system is becoming more and more redundant. Eczema, and even acne, could be a manifestation of this. Acne is also related to hormonal changes taking place in adolescence. There is an increased sebum production so the skin is more oily and some times an overproduction of a certain type of bacteria . Treatments basically involve drying the skin and altering the build up of dead skin cells in the hair follicles and sebaceous glands. For severe acne you should go to see a skin specialist. |
The What's the Problem? website is providing general information only. It should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. The BBC is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of the What's the Problem? website. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health. |
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| FURTHER INFORMATION | ||
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| What is skin? It's the biggest organ in the body, weighing up to 7% of the total body weight. The average adult has about 2 sq metres of skin. It protects us from water loss and dehydration, protects us from infection, ultra violet light, and from over heating. What can we do generally to look after our skin? *Protect it from ultra violet light - use sun block especially if you have pale skin *Wash and moisturise your skin - even men! *Drink plenty of water *Cut out smoking | ||
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