Acne is Not the Same as Spots
There are various types of acne, named according to how or why the acne arose. Some of the kinds of acne are: acne conglobata (chronic boils); acne fulminans (an extreme form of conglobata); acne cosmetica (caused by cosmetics); acne keloidalis nuchae (from shaving); acne medicamentosa (caused by starting or stopping a medication); acne rosacea (redness on the face); baby acne; hormonal acne; cloracne and the common variety, acne vulgaris (also known as ‘puberty spots’). In this article, we will take a closer look at acne vulgaris.
Acne vulgaris could be defined as: ‘an inflammatory disease of the skin, caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, spots or zits’ (according to Wikipedia).
Acne is most often found in Western teenagers, although it does occur in every country in the world, so there could be a genetic predisposition to it. It is possible that it could be an abnormal reaction to quite average levels of testosterone. For most sufferers, the condition lasts only until adulthood, probably only a few years or at most ten. For others, however, it can be a life-long recurring affliction. It most often affects the face, upper-chest, upper-arms and back. However, an occasional spot is not the same as acne.
Acne vulgaris manifests itself in many forms, including: whiteheads, resulting from pores that are completely blocked, trapping sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing a white appearance on the surface; blackheads, caused by pores which are only partially blocked, allowing some of the trapped sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells to slowly drain to the surface (the black colour is not caused by dirt, but is a reaction of the skin’s own pigment, melanin, with the oxygen in the air); papules, which are inflamed, red, tender bumps with no head and pustules, which are similar to whiteheads, but are inflamed, and look like red circles with a white or yellow centre.
Whiteheads do not often last for a long time; blackheads do last a long time and pustules are what people usually refer to as spots or zits. Severe acne vulgaris is distinguished by nodules and cysts. A ‘nodule’ is a rather larger and much more painful sort of pustule and can often last for months. Nodules are large, hard lumps just under the skin. They frequently cause scarring and should never for any reason be squeezed, since this could make them last for months longer.
A ‘cyst’ may look similar to a nodule, but it is full of pus and has been described as having a diameter of at least 5mm and, again, can leave scars and cause pain. Squeezing an acne cyst may cause a more severe infection and more acute inflammation which may last quite a bit longer than if it had not been squeezed. Skin experts have methods of reducing the swelling and preventing scarring with both nodules and cysts. It is just not true that acne sufferers are not meticulous about their hygiene.
In fact, excessive washing can exacerbate acne. There are many, many fake ‘cures’ on the market and many, many old wives’ remedies, but any good skin expert would tell you that there is no known cure for acne and that the patient should follow a strict regimen of cleansing until the acne just ‘goes away’ of its own accord.
Related posts:
- Facts About Acne Remedies To Know How To Get Rid Of Acne Fast Naturally
- Acne And Understanding It
- Taking Control Of Your Acne Problems
- How To Get The Best Acne Treatment To Help Your Skin
- Acne Skin Care Products – An Introduction
- Coping and Dealing with Acne
- Home Made Acne Medication – Are They Really Good?
- Isotretinoin Is Often Used For Severe Acne
- Using Acne No More To Clear Your Acne
- Nodules Are Formed Under The Skin