Nearly 17 million Americans have acne, making it the most common skin disease in this country, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). Test your knowledge of acne by taking this multiple-choice quiz.
Acne is a disease that affects which of these?
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Glands at the base of hair follicles produce oil that travels up the hair shaft. Oil trapped inside follicles causes acne.
Which of these is the most common area for acne to occur?
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Acne also commonly occurs on the chest.
Which of these factors causes acne?
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Hormones, your genes and certain medications are more likely to cause blemishes, not hygiene or diet. There's no scientific evidence that dirty skin, eating pizza or chocolate causes pimples. Stress can worsen acne though it doesn’t cause acne to develop.
Dead skin cells are shed rapidly inside the follicles during adolescence. The dead cells mix with oil in the glands and block follicles, causing blackheads or pimples.
Which of these hormones stimulates acne in people between ages 11 and 14?
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Androgen causes the oil glands at the base of follicles to enlarge and produce more sebum. Glands overstimulated by the hormone are more likely to develop acne.
Acne can be effectively treated with which of the following?
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Dermatologists have several aims in treating acne, the NIAMS says: They want to heal the existing acne, stop new lesions from forming, prevent scarring and ease the stress and embarrassment that acne can cause.
Some cosmetics/toiletries aggravate acne. What kind of cosmetics is least likely to do so?
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You should make sure all of your makeup, from eye shadow to hair care products, is oil-free, the NIAMS says.
How does exposure to sunlight affect acne?
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Many acne treatments also make the skin vulnerable to UV damage.
What percentage of people ages 12 to 24 suffers from acne?
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Everyone suffers at least a mild outbreak in the teen years. Acne peaks in women between ages 14 and 16; men, 16 and 19.