Acne occurs when the pores on your skin become blocked with oil, dead skin, or bacteria. Each pore on your skin is the opening to a follicle. The follicle is made up of a hair and a sebaceous (oil) gland. The oil gland releases sebum (oil), which travels up the hair, out of the pore, and onto your skin. The sebum keeps your skin lubricated and soft. Acne can be caused by one or more problems in this lubrication process.
An elevated level of total IgE indicates an allergic process is likely present, but it will not indicate what a person is allergic to. In general, the greater the number of things a person is allergic to, the higher the total IgE level may be.
NCEP defines a desirable total cholesterol level as less than 200 mg/dL, and levels for most women stay in the healthy or desirable range until middle-age. But between the ages of 45 and 55, women's average total cholesterol rises to almost 220 mg/dL. Between the ages of 55 and 64, those levels average 240 mg/dL. Total cholesterol levels between 200 and 239 mg/dL are considered borderline high, meaning you have a borderline-high risk of developing heart disease. Levels of 240 mg/dL and above put you in the high-risk category for developing heart disease. LDL cholesterol levels less than 100 mg/dL are considered optimal, according to NCEP guidelines.