GIRLS AND FACE ACNE

by

SABA ASIF

01153147

Samanabad Postgraduate College for Women , Lahore.

Applied Psychology
Research question

What are causes of pimples on the face of young girls?

Introduction

Many people are facing the problems of acne and pimples now a day. Acne is a skin condition that

occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with oily substance called sebum clogs pores and dead

skin cells. It often causes whiteheads, blackheads or pimples, and usually appears on the face, forehead,

chest, upper back and shoulders. Acne is most common among teenagers, though it affects people of all

ages.Almost all teens get acne. Every one want to have glow skin ; so, they look beautiful and admire. For

that purpose they use a number of products as imported soaps and creams, a variety of facewash

,lotions, gels and pads and herbal remedies. While others go to the dermatologist for their acne and

pimples treatment. Most of the girls feel inferiority complex and it also damage self-esteem. Acne isn't a

serious health risk, though severe acne can cause permanent scars. But the most important question

that arise here is what are the actual causes of acne and pimples on face? Why half of the

community is facing this problem? Is it something in their diets or some chemicals or cosmetic

products they use? Is the air pollution or environmental factors cause acne and pimples? Is there any

physiological reason for it? Stress can cause acne worse.

Theoretical Framework

Acne vulgaris is gradually becoming recognized as an inflammatory disorder of the

pilosebaceous unit. It is a common skin disease with a peak prevalence in teenage years but

also occurs in girls pre-menarche and can continue to be a problem in women past adolescences.

Symptom and sign OR Types of acne

 Acne can appear as one of the following:

  Whiteheads:(closed plugged pores)
 White dots that are pores impacted with oil and skin covered by skin layers.
 Blackheads:(open plugged pores)
 Black bumps that are impacted pores in which material pushes out through the follicles. The
black color is not from dirt. It may be from bacteria, dead skin cells, and matter that react with
oxygen.
 Small red Papules, pustules or nodules: More serious lesions appearing red and swollen due to
inflammation or infection of the tissue around the clogged follicles, which are often painful and
feel hard.
 Cysts: Deep, pus-filled pimples.

Acne signs and symptoms vary depending on the severity of your condition.

Why Do Some People Get Acne and Others Don't?

It is not clear why some people are more prone to acne than others.

The exact cause of acne is not known, but hormones called androgens can play a role. Androgens
increase in both boys and girls during puberty. Androgens make the skin's oil glands get larger and make
more sebum. Androgens also can increase because of hormonal changes related to pregnancy or starting
or stopping birth control pills.

These factors have little effect on acne:

Greasy foods. Eating greasy food has little to no effect on acne. Though working in a greasy area, such as
a kitchen with fry vats, does because the oil can stick to the skin and block the hair follicles. This further
irritates the skin or promotes acne.

Hygiene. Acne isn't caused by dirty skin. In fact, scrubbing the skin too hard or cleansing with harsh
soaps or chemicals irritates the skin and can make acne worse.

Cosmetics. Cosmetics don't necessarily worsen acne, especially if you use oil-free makeup that doesn't
clog pores (noncomedogenics) and remove makeup regularly.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that some popular nonprescription acne lotions,
cleansers and other skin products can cause a serious reaction. This type of reaction is quite rare, so
don't confuse it with the redness, irritation or itchiness where you've applied medications or products.

Literature review

Acne vulgaris (acne) is a common dermatological condition typically associated with the adolescent
population. However, the condition is also prevalent and persistent into young girls with 64% of the 16 to
25-year-old and 43% of the 30- to 39-year-old male and female populations experiencing acne (Bhate &
Williams, 2013).
An independent clinical study was performed by "La Roche-Posay Laboratory in " Beijing, China, to
investigate the relationship between exposure to the most frequent industry- and traffic-related air
pollutants And geographical location I.e tropical regions of world. Airborne pollutants, such as
particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds, ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur
dioxide (SO2). Almost, in a recent research 556253 people on a globally survey were suffering from
acne and their causes.As NO2 exposure has been linked to pigment spot formation on cheeks in both
Caucasian and Asian women. (Larrieu S, Lefranc A, Gault G, et al. 2009).

In one large intercontinental, epidemiological study, the prevalence of clinical acne was reported on
geographical zones, 24% in Caucasian, 30% in Asian and 23% in continental Indian women. However,
acne type was found to vary between skin subtypes. Asian women were reported to have a higher
prevalence of inflammatory acne than comedonal acne (20% vs 10%), compared to Caucasian women,
for whom comedonal acne was more prevalent (14%) than inflammatory acne (10%).( Perkins AC, Cheng
CE, Hillebrand GG, Miyamoto K, Kimball AB. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2007).

One epidemiological study in China that was conducted in 2007 explored the prevalence of greasy skin in
a metropolitan area and found that 25.6% of participants reported having greasy skin compared with a
nonpolluted area because working in greasy area is worsen skin acne. Skin quality changes were defined
as reduced vitamin E and squalene levels, which are known signs of sebum oxidation.In tropical regions
peoples are with worsen acne symptoms because ultraviolet radiation and sunlight are directly effect
skin.(Nouveau-Richard S, et al.2007;and Bernard D in 2015).

A related research on Pathophysiology of acne as an inflammatory disease was conducted for the
understanding of the pathophysiology of acne . Acne is accepted to have a multifactorial etiology, based
on three main observations: increased sebum production (under hormonal stimulation), abnormal
keratinization of the pilosebaceous duct, and it is becoming increasingly evident that acne is driven by an
inflammatory reaction to Propionibacterium acnes.(Dreno B, Gollnick HP, Kang S, et al. 2015 and
Makrantonaki E, Ganceviciene R, Zouboulis C in 2011).

Research Methodology

Participant or sample characteristics

This research is about young females. To conduct this research, we took college students

who were female. The age of the females ranged from 15 years to 24 years. The females

belonged to different family backgrounds. There were 4 females and one moderators.

Research Setting
 Researcher took the females to an empty ground and seated them in a peaceful

environment. Then researcher performed the research in the form of a focus group. Unstructured

interview is used for this study.

Sampling

Researcher used convenience sampling and gathered a group of 8 females. Then

researcher randomly selected 5 females, who were relevant to our study, among them.

Procedure

Researcher obtained permission from supervisor of qualitative research "Miss

shazia Irfan" from Dept.of Applied psychology. The purpose of study was briefed to the

participants and after obtaining informed consent from participants and then developing

rapport from carefully conducting unstructured interview for data collection on the problem ;

what are causes of acne on the face of young girls?

Recording of data

The data was audio recorded in a cell phone after developing full confidentiality from
the participants. When the focus group interview was completed the time taken by participants
during the interview was also noted. Then collected data was transcribed by the moderator or
researcher.

Transcription

Moderator: So, as you guys know that our topic today is causes of acne. I would like to hear

your views.

Subjects’ responses
Participant 1: …. well I think acne is caused due to poor working of stomach and

malnutrition….

Participant 2: …. but I think the cause of acne is pollution, I.e air and dust pollution. And college

going girls have increase risk of acne due dust pollution because their skin is very soft and

sensitive.

Participants3: ....umm ... I think ...acne can be produce on girls face who washes their face more

than twice in a day and use towel to dry face. Towel produce friction and pressure on soft skin.

The friction caused by scarfs and applying veil on face lead to pimples and acne on face.

Participant 4 :.… But i think acne can be transformed from one person to another in a family

because one person suffering with acne who use towel on face share towel with other siblings

or family members.

Moderator :....well I think acne worsen effect on people mostly seen in summer season so

there is also seasonal effect on skin ...what do you think so ?

Participant 3:.… I think you are right , it is seasonal effect because our skin become oilly in

summer due to direct sunlight and heat which causes pimple .

participant 4: .... But it all depends on skin type. In my opinion , girls working in kitchen for a lot

of time complaints for acne and pimples on face .

Participant1: ... But all girls who work in kitchen does not complaints for acne. I think Acne also

arises on face when girls who uses oily lotion or cream on face before working in greasy

areas like kitchen.

Participant 2: ...I think it is environmental effect and people living in tropical or sub tropical

areas and villages are seen with people . l have experienced acne when ,once I went to village

on summer vacations.

Participant 1:.... I think it is also due to local cosmetics products usage ...And I remember I

once use a face whiting cream in summer and it was the starting of my face acne.

Participant 2: ....I think acne causes due to less drinking water intake in the body specially in

summer season.

Participants 4: .... It could be dietary effect because Mostly girls with acne are seen with eating

chocolates , fries and pizza. I like chocolates much and frequently I had stomach problem also.

Participant 2:....hmm....I also complaint for stomach problem whenever I ate Unhygienic food

from outside home l.e goolgappas and allo channy . And I love eating goolgappas.

Moderato :: …but what about those who have acne throughout the year ...? …whether it is

genetically transmitted disease or it is due to dietary effect or some other reason?

Participant 1: … acne worse during periods and in mostly girls at puberty have a high rate of

acne ,so I think it is due to hormonal changes at the time of puberty and it can also be a

genetically transmitted disease.

Participant 3:... You are right . Everybody says acne start at the begining of puberty and we

should not touch or rub acne otherwise it leave scars on skin forever.
Participant 2: ...oh..ohhh....but .I used a lot of creams (golden pearl) and face pads when acne

started to began on my face . But my skin did not get rid of acne even i stop using cosmetic

products.

Participants 1: It could be dietary effect because Mostly girls with acne are seen with eating

unhygienic and oily food I.e , fries , samosas, pratha, shawarma and pizza. I like shawarma

much and frequently I had stomach problem also.

Participant4:.... I think it is caused due to stress….

Participant 3: .…yes, I agree… but stress in which way?

Participant 4: .… in…. umm…. The girls who spend most time in working or studying may take

a lot of stress and during exams days mostly girls do not eat appropriately and therefore there

stomach don't work well due to mal nutrition and acne on face appear increasingly .

Participant 3: …. but everybody who take stress of exams do not complaint for acne I think

people who take heavy medicine due to some other illness or dieseas and their stomach is not

able to bear that heavy medicine and become cause of severe acneon face lm acne avoid

attending parties, becomes homesick and less socialize due to acne worsen.

Participant 3: ....Actually, girls face acne loss their confidens ,self-esteem and becomes

disappoint from life

Participant2 :...I think acne on my face appear whenever I use cosmetics so my opinion in every

type of acne in any case we should take remedies from dermatologist that which cream or soap

is suitable for our skin type and not apply anything on face from which we are not aware.
Participant 3: .… yes , you are right . well it's mean now I should take care of my dietary plan as

well as usage of cosmetics...that's all thank you...

Participant 4: .… well...I should avoid eating unhygienic food that are the big cause for my

acne .

Coding
Open coding. Axial coding. Selective coding.

Open coding

Participant 1 Participant 2 Participant 3 Participant 4

Stomach problem Pollution Direct sunlight and Stress.

temperature

Malnutrition Dehydration Seasonal effect Poor diet or

malnutrition
Hormonal imbalance Local cosmetics I.e Heavy medicine usage Overworking in

Golden pearl cream due to serious illness kitchen

Seasonal effect Environmental effect Hormonal imbalances Oily and fast food

Tropical or subtropical

areas

Stress Unhygienic foods Sharing Towel across Over eating of

siblings Chocolates

Local cosmetics Applying Veil and scarf Periods Working in greasy areas

on face
 Axial Coding

Food Related causes Product Related Envoirnmental causes Pathophysiological

causes causes

Malnutrition. Golden pearl cream Seasonal effect like Heavy medicines

summer season usage

Oily and fast foods Face pads and Using scarfs and veil in Hormonal imbalance

usage excessive facails summer( especially black

of black color)

Less intake of drinking Low quality Working in greasy areas

water or dehydration cosmetics usage

Stomach problems

Over eating Oily creams and Tropical and subtropical Stress

chocolates. lotions climatic region or areas

Unhygienic foods Using scarfs and Pollution I.e air and dust

taking veil pollution

Direct sunlight and UV rays

and heat

Selective cocause

Environmental cause, and Biological cause

Discussion :

Acne is a dermatologic condition typically associated with the adolescent population but is increasingly
becoming prevalent in adults, particularly in wome.
 It is seen that the causes of face ACNE are develop at puberty when androgen hormona enlarge
secretion of sebaceous gland that produce sebum and acne develops on face due to low androgen
secretion in girls . The second cause is due to the environmental factors. Many of the females
face difficulties of acne due to lack of awareness of cosmetics products. Many of them have
acne and pimples because they use oily lotions or creams before working in greasy areas like
kitchen and mostly in summer season. It is seen that every girl face acne due to hormonal
imbalances at the time of puberty and it may be agenetic factors. It is seen that some girls
rubbing and squeezed the pimples that causes worsen acne problems. Many girls are habitual of
applying veils and scarfs for maximum time of the day ,that is one of the cause of acne
especially in summers.According to DR. Jeffrey " Changing hormone levels in adolescent girls and
adult women two to seven days before the start of the menstrual are also cause of acne. Bcause of the
visibility of acne, it is known to have psychosocial and functional impacts that can influence patients’
perceptions regarding their self-appearance, particularly among women (Zauli et al., 2014).

For the treatment of acne we should move towards dermatologist.

Conclusion:

The causes of acne on the face of young girls are identified in this research study that face ACNE are
multifactorial and the biggest cause of it is environmental factor in which air pollution I.e dust ,smoke
,heat ,direct sunlight, UV rays) , unhygienic food , pathophysiological factors are involved.These factors
cause unbalanced PH of skin and reduced ability to glow.This study offers greater understanding of
causes of acne in young girls.

References

https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S131323.com

https://www.mayoclinic.org.acne.com

https://www.medical news today.com

https://www.bioclarity.com

https://www.healthline.com

https://www.cosmopolitan.com