There are several different forms of acne, depending on how or why the acne arose. Some of the forms 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 concentrate on acne vulgaris.
Acne vulgaris may be described 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' (from Wikipedia).
Acne is most often found in Western teens, 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 exceptional reaction to fairly normal 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 problem. 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 ways, including: whiteheads, resulting from pores that are completely blocked, trapping sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing a white spot on the surface; blackheads, resulting from 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 usually last long; blackheads can last a long time and pustules are what people call spots. Severe acne vulgaris is distinguished by nodules and cysts. A 'nodule' is a much larger and more painful kind of pustule and can often last for months. Nodules are large, hard bumps under the skin's surface. They often result in scarring and should never be squeezed, which could cause them to last for months longer still.
A 'cyst' may look like 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 irritation. Squeezing an acne cyst may cause a more severe infection and more acute inflammation which can last quite a bit longer than if it had not been squeezed. Dermatologists have ways of reducing the swelling and avoiding scarring with both nodules and cysts. It is just not true that acne sufferers are not careful about their hygiene.
In fact, over washing can irritate acne. There are many, many useless 'cures' on the market and many, many old wives' tales, but any good dermatologist would advise you that there is no known cure for acne and that the patient should follow a religious regimen of cleansing until the acne just 'disappears' of its own accord. - 30292
Acne vulgaris may be described 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' (from Wikipedia).
Acne is most often found in Western teens, 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 exceptional reaction to fairly normal 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 problem. 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 ways, including: whiteheads, resulting from pores that are completely blocked, trapping sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing a white spot on the surface; blackheads, resulting from 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 usually last long; blackheads can last a long time and pustules are what people call spots. Severe acne vulgaris is distinguished by nodules and cysts. A 'nodule' is a much larger and more painful kind of pustule and can often last for months. Nodules are large, hard bumps under the skin's surface. They often result in scarring and should never be squeezed, which could cause them to last for months longer still.
A 'cyst' may look like 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 irritation. Squeezing an acne cyst may cause a more severe infection and more acute inflammation which can last quite a bit longer than if it had not been squeezed. Dermatologists have ways of reducing the swelling and avoiding scarring with both nodules and cysts. It is just not true that acne sufferers are not careful about their hygiene.
In fact, over washing can irritate acne. There are many, many useless 'cures' on the market and many, many old wives' tales, but any good dermatologist would advise you that there is no known cure for acne and that the patient should follow a religious regimen of cleansing until the acne just 'disappears' of its own accord. - 30292
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