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

Science World, Dec 10, 2001

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," Gordon says. "Once it's filled, the zit blows up." You might think zit popping will clear up skin. But it may actually cause deeper and more inflamed pores, even permanent scars. "A pimple comes and goes in a week," Gordon says. "But a scar is a scar." Her advice: Clean (don't scrub) the face with a mild cleanser. For oily skin, select one that contains salicylic acid, which exfoliates (removes dead skin cells) and cuts oil. Topical treatment with benzoyl peroxide helps dry blemishes and fight bacteria. But don't overuse it: Too much can dry out skin and leave a scab over the inflammation.

1. Oil and dead skin cells shed through normal pore. 2. Bacteria grows in trapped oil. 3. Fatty acid leaks into tissue and causes swelling.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

FACTOID

About 85 percent of teens suffer from acne.

Don't Sweat It

Do you sniff your pits for B.O. after a sweaty game of basketball? If so, you're not alone. "The odor is caused by bacteria that thrive in moist body areas," says Gordon. And during puberty, hormones cause sweat glands to become more active.

When sweat, especially from the apocrine glands (sweat glands in underarms and around genitals), mixes with bacteria on the skin surface, the byproduct is body odor. Increased body hair--like in your armpits--also creates more surface area for bacterial growth. The remedy: "Regular bathing with soap," advises Gordon. "But most important, dry off carefully." No time to shower between classes? Wipe your body with a clean damp cloth, dry well, and put on flesh clothes. "While a deodorant can't stop body odor," Gordon says, "it can temporarily mask it with fragrance."

What about stinky sneaker feet? "That's a tough one," says Gordon. Feet are encased in shoes all day, sweating as if in a sauna. Keep your feet as clean, aired, and dry as possible. Wear cotton socks, which absorb more sweat than synthetic materials. Another stumper: shoes that reek from absorbing foot odor. If you have to wear stinkers, sprinkle them with odor-eating shoe powder.

FACTOID

In centuries past, brides used bouquets to hide B.O.

Blown Away

We're not talking bad breath from onions. "That you can blame on food," says Dr. Richard Price, spokesperson for the American Dental Association. As for halitosis--mouth odor--the culprit is bacteria.

Even with good dental hygiene like regular brushing and flossing, the healthy mouth teems with bacteria. Most bad-breath makers are anaerobic, or live without air. "They live in `gag-city,' at the back of the tongue," says Price. "They live off whatever they find, like dead skin cells from the mouth and mucus from postnasal drip"--caused by allergies or colds.

"Bacteria love mucus!" Price says. "They eat it and grow." The byproduct: volatile sulfur compounds (stinky gases) that cause halitosis. Dry mouth also encourages bacterial growth, because the microbes stay put and congregate. "Think `dragon breath' when you wake up in the morning," Price says.

To beat bad breath, brush, floss, and guzzle water. The wetter the mouth, the better to scatter bacteria. Breath mints or mouthwash just mask one odor with another. And don't forget to visit the dentist--cavities make good hiding places for bacteria.

"Brushing the tongue, especially toward the back, will remove some bacteria," says Price. "But for a big clean-up, use a tongue scraper. They re available at drugstores.

FACTOID

40 million Americans have chronic bad breath.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Lesson Plans

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Did You Know?

* Buried in Egyptian tombs from 3000 B.C. were twigs with soft, frayed ends--early evidence of dental hygiene. Researchers think the first real toothbrush--made of Siberian wild-boar hair attached to a bamboo handle--was invented by the Chinese in the 15th century. Traders introduced it to Europe. The nylon-bristled brush made its debut in 1938.

* It takes three or four weeks for a pimple to form.

* Contrary to popular belief, dabbing toothpaste on a zit will not cure it--it may only dry the skin surface a little.

Cross-Curricular Connection

Health/Economics: Review and compare different brands of hygiene products. Rate them. Research the brands' influence on the teen market. Decide: hype or worthy?

National Science Education Standards

Grades 5-8: personal health * populations and ecosystems * structure and function in living systems

Grades 9-12: the cell * interdependence of organisms * matter, energy, and organization in living systems * personal and community health