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Article: Excuse me ...: ... but acne, bad breath, and body odor are a normal part of life. Learn the science behind them, and get some help on how to cope. (Teen health issue: hygiene * microbes).
- Article from:
- Science World
- Article date:
- December 10, 2001
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Scholastic, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Zits Are Us
Think acne comes from chowing french fries or chocolate? "Those are myths," says dermatologist (skin doctor) Marsha Gordon at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in N.Y. The real lowdown on zit science: During puberty, hormones (brain chemicals that control body functions) become more active and sebaceous (oil producing) glands under the skin surge in activity. "Oil makes skin cells sticky," says Gordon. And when oil--combined with dead skin cells, dirt, or perspiration--doesn't wash off the skin surface, pores clog. Bacteria invade the trapped oil under the skin. Result: Acne. (See diagram.)
"It's like forcing fluid into a plugged space," ...