Two young women share their story of how acne affects their lives.
According to Google, acne is a skin condition that occurs when hair follicles plug with oil and dead skin cells. It is most common in teenagers and young adults. Acne and pimples differ as acne is a disease and pimples are one of the symptoms. Acne is a condition affecting the skins hair follicles and oil glands. Under a person’s skin, pores are connected to glands that make an oily substance known as sebum. Acne symptoms include whiteheads (closed plugged pores), blackheads (open plugged pores), small red tender bumps (papules), pimples (pustules) which are papules with pus at their tips, large, solid painful lumps under the skin (nodules) and painful pus-filled lumps under the skin (cystic lesions). Acne usually appears on the face, forehead, chest, shoulders and upper back.
Primarily, two young women in their early twenties tell their story about their acne skin disease. “Growing up, my skin was okay, especially as a child. I started seeing change when I was about 15 years. My parents said it was puberty and it’ll wear off eventually but here I am, 25 years of age and my issue is getting worse from time to time. I’ve used a lot of skin products but they haven’t worked 100% so I assume these products aren’t for my skin type. People have recommended certain dermatologists to me but I’m currently unemployed so that is quite a challenge. I try to eat healthily, I drink lots of water and recently I’ve been using the turmeric and honey home remedy. So far it’s okay, I see the change and my dark spots are vanishing, I’m genuinely hoping for the best,” added Zamokuhle Mafuleka from Sky City, Alberton.
Duduzile Mtshali, a 24-year-old residing at Visagie Park, Nigel says that skin disease has always been a part of her. “I have acne-prone skin so this disease has always been a part of my life. Sometimes it just gets better and you wake up and your face is fine for a week or so and then you wake up one morning and it’s back to pimples and blackheads. I’m currently steaming and I look forward to taking Oratane capsules that will help treat my acne because it has recently gotten worse. When I had mild acne, I used to embrace my skin, because I thought acne is normal and it shouldn’t affect anyone’s self-esteem and confidence,” concluded Mtshali.
By Palesa Ndinisa
