test the team - Dermalogica Business Center

6. List the four main contributory factors that lead to the development of acne:
• Follicle
• Skin cells
• Sebaceous gland and sebum
• Bacteria
7. Explain, in client language, how the four factors contribute to acne formation:
Follicle
In a normally functioning skin, the hair within the follicle acts as a wick to draw oil and dead skin cells up and out of the follicle onto
the surface of the skin where it can be cleansed away. However, in an acne skin, follicles are often missing a hair. This means that oil
and skin cells can build up within the follicle and cause congestion.
Skin cells
In a normally functioning skin, skin cells are developed in the lowest layers of the skin and work their way through a series of layers.
When the skin cells reach the uppermost layers of the skin, enzymes are activated to allow them to shed. In acne skin this process
is affected because of a lack of the enzymes needed to facilitate the shedding process. In addition, acne skins over produce skin
cells by 4-5 times! This adds to the build up of skin cells on the skins surface and contributes to the congestion of the skin.
Sebaceous gland and sebum
In a normally functioning skin, the skin’s natural oily substance (called sebum) has a consistency of olive oil. In acne skin the
consistency of sebum is more like butter therefore it is more likely to become stuck within the follicle and lead to congestion.
Sebaceous activity is under the control of hormones, in particular testosterone. Testosterone within the skin reacts with an
enzyme (called 5 alpha reductase.) This leads to the formation of a more aggressive type of the testosterone hormone (called
dihydrotestosterone) which in turn directly increases sebum production.
Bacteria
While follicles remain uncongested, bacteria that reside within them remain dormant. As soon as oxygen is restricted within the
follicle (due to congestion from dead skin cells and sebum) bacteria becomes active.
Bacteria within the follicles stimulate an enzyme (called lipase) which leads to a process of inflammation and potentially the
stimulation of white blood cells, this is when we would see a pustule.
8. List as many acne triggers as you can:
• Heredity
• Cosmetics
• Environment
• Medication
• Hormones
• Friction
• Picking
• Industrial oils
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