听力文摘：粉刺的奥秘（在线收听）

Acne: the scourge of adolescence. Most people endure it at some point, and can’t wait to be rid of the combination of whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, and pustules that comprise the skin condition that affects over 80% of teenagers and nearly 20% of adults.

粉刺：青春期的灾难。许多人都在忍受它带来的麻烦，迫切地想要摆脱白头、黑头、丘疹、脓疱的困扰。这些问题滋扰着超过80%的年轻人和近20%的成人。

What Is Acne?

粉刺是什么？

Acne begins with the pores from which hair grows. These pores contain sebaceous glands that produce a type of oil that lubricates hair and skin. When the glands produce the right amount of oil, there’s usually no trouble.

粉刺在毛发生长的毛孔上出现，这些毛孔包含了皮脂腺，而皮脂腺能产生可以滋润毛发和皮肤的油。当这些腺体产生适量油脂的时候，通常不会出现问题。

But, when a pore gets clogged with too much oil and dead skin cells, problems arise. The onset of puberty in most kids involves the production of hormones. These hormones cause the sebaceous glands to make excess oil. Too much oil clogs pores and attracts bacteria, which feed on the oil and begin to multiply. A clogged pore can only stand so much internal pressure before its walls break, allowing the oil and bacteria to seep under the surrounding skin. This gives rise to something every teen dreads: a pimple.

但是，当一个毛孔被过多的油脂和死去的皮肤细胞堵塞，问题出现了。许多孩子的青春期伴随着荷尔蒙的产生。这些激素导致皮脂腺分泌多余的油脂。过多的油脂会堵塞毛孔并滋生细菌，细菌靠这些油脂生存和繁殖。一个堵塞的毛孔的承载量是有限的，当压力过大时毛壁会破裂，油脂和细菌会渗漏到附近的皮肤上。每个年轻人的噩梦----粉刺产生了。

Acne Causes

粉刺的根源

Contrary to popular belief, eating foods such as pizza and chocolate does not cause or exacerbate acne. Whether or not a person will have acne as a teenager or adult is largely a matter of genetics: if your parents had it, there’s a good chance you will too.

不同于大众的认知，吃诸如披萨和巧克力之类的食物并不会导致或者恶化粉刺。不管是青少年还是成年人，人们产生粉刺的原因在于基因：如果你的父母有过粉刺，你很可能也会有。

Although there is no cure for acne, simple remedies to prevent a build-up of oil in pores, such as washing your face with soap and warm water and using oil-free cosmetics, can help.

尽管没有根治粉刺的方法，但有办法可以防止毛孔的油脂堆积：比如用温水和肥皂洗脸，使用不含油脂的化妆品。