There are several different types of acne, depending on how or why the acne started. Some of the types 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 (better known as 'puberty spots'). We will concentrate on acne vulgaris.
Acne vulgaris can 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' (according to Wikipedia).
Acne is most common in white Western teenagers, although it does occur in every country in the world, so there may be a genetic predisposition to it. It is possible that it could be an exceptional reaction to quite average levels of testosterone. For most afflicted, outbreaks of acne last only until adulthood, probably only a few years or at the most ten. For other people, however, it can be a life-long 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 ways, including: whiteheads, caused by pores that are completely blocked, trapping sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing a white spot on the top; 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 appear as 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 characterized 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 frequently cause scarring and should never be squeezed, which could cause them to last for months longer still.
A 'cyst' may appear similar to a nodule, but it is full of pus and has been defined as having a diameter of at least 5mm and, again, can cause 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 a myth that acne sufferers are not meticulous about their hygiene.
Indeed, it is a little-known fact that, excessive washing can irritate acne. There are many, many useless 'treatments' in the shops and many, many old wives' tales. However, any honest dermatologist would tell you that there is no sure-fire remedy for acne and that the patient should follow a deliberate regimen of cleaning until the acne eventually 'disappears' on its own.
Acne vulgaris can 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' (according to Wikipedia).
Acne is most common in white Western teenagers, although it does occur in every country in the world, so there may be a genetic predisposition to it. It is possible that it could be an exceptional reaction to quite average levels of testosterone. For most afflicted, outbreaks of acne last only until adulthood, probably only a few years or at the most ten. For other people, however, it can be a life-long 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 ways, including: whiteheads, caused by pores that are completely blocked, trapping sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing a white spot on the top; 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 appear as 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 characterized 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 frequently cause scarring and should never be squeezed, which could cause them to last for months longer still.
A 'cyst' may appear similar to a nodule, but it is full of pus and has been defined as having a diameter of at least 5mm and, again, can cause 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 a myth that acne sufferers are not meticulous about their hygiene.
Indeed, it is a little-known fact that, excessive washing can irritate acne. There are many, many useless 'treatments' in the shops and many, many old wives' tales. However, any honest dermatologist would tell you that there is no sure-fire remedy for acne and that the patient should follow a deliberate regimen of cleaning until the acne eventually 'disappears' on its own.
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