Acne Articles

Acne is a common disorder where the pores and hair follicles become agitated and inflamed, leading to facial imperfections that appear on the face and body. These marks can take many forms including zits, cysts, abscesses, open comedos, and in more severe cases even permanent scarring. Acne most often occurs in both women and men during the adolescent period known as puberty. This is when the human body begins to undergo obvious changes in hormone levels as a result of building a mature, adult body that is capable of sexual reproduction. Acne most commonly affects teenage boys, but it is not limited to just them. Acne can affect both genders of all ages; sometimes all the way through their complete lives. This is less common but certainly not uncommon.

There are two major types of acne; non-inflammatory acne and inflammatory. The non-inflammatory category is seperated into two categories; closed comedo and open comedo. A closed comedo is also called a whitehead and develops on the skin as a tiny white or yellow bump. The open comedo is otherwise known as a blackhead. A build-up of dirt, despite what many say, is not the cause of blackheads. It is in reality a surplus of melanin, a substance that encompasses the color of the skin. Closed comedos and open comedos can be minimized and controlled by using anti-inflammatory cleaners such as Proactiv or products that contain aloe vera.

Pustules are dark sores that are filled with pus and have a whitish or yellowish color. They can form from whiteheads or blackheads. They are round sores that have become inflamed because of agitated sebaceous glands. The human body has lots of sebaceous glands that produce an oil-like substance called sebum. When the skin is exposed to an excess of sebum, the hair follicles and pores become irritated and infected. Cysts are larger pus filled sores that can be seen on the top but are actually deep within the epidermis. Because of the size and depth of the inflammation, cysts are often very irritating and can be as large as an inch across the affected area. They appear as a result of the contents of a comedo spreading across the infected area and the bodies defense mechanism of producing pus to minimize these effects. Permanent scars can result from cysts. Blemishes that seem more obvious on the skin are known as inflammatory acne. Inflammatory acne can mostly be seen on the face, but can form on a number of other places on the body like the shoulders, neck, chest, upper arms, scalp, back, and legs. The zit is the most obvious form of acne observed. This is when the pore or hair follicle becomes agitated and forms small red spots on the skin surface. Before the blemish is fully formed there are symptoms that can be seen. These symptoms include open comedos, closed comedos, cysts, and pustules. Blackheads are clogged pores that have a darker hue with a hole at the surface of the skin. They are more often than not found on the nose, but can also be seen on the cheeks and forehead as well. Closed comedos are slightly different in that they don't have a pore opening. They are splotches that seem to be bulging out from under the skin. Whiteheads will commonly turn into pustules if left alone for a few days. If they are forced open or popped, they will commonly become more infected and could cause permanent scarring. So it is an excellent idea to leave the closed comedos alone. Acne sufferers with whiteheads would be better off using a gently exfoliating cleanser, like Proactiv solution or Noxema.

Whatever kind of skin problem there is, there is an efficient treatment that is out there and available.More knowledge of the various types of acne will give the acne sufferer a better idea of what the most efficient form of treatment will be. Remember, blemishesdoesn’t have to affect you all your life. With a bit of research and time anyone can find the treatment that is proper for them.