Acne Articles

Acne is a skin disorder where the pores and hair follicles become agitated and inflamed, leading to cosmetic imperfections that show on the skin surface. These imperfections can take many forms including pimples, cysts, abscesses, open comedos, and in more severe cases even permanent scarring. Acne most often occurs in both women and men during the teenage stage called as puberty. This is when the human body begins to develop obvious changes in hormone levels as a result of developing into a grown-up, adult body capable of sexual reproduction. Acne often affects teenage boys, but it is not limited to just them. Acne can affect both men and women of all ages; sometimes all the way through their complete adult lives. This is less common but definitely not abnormal.

Inflammatory and Non-infalammatory are the two major kinds of acne. The non-inflammatory category is divided into two categories; closed comedo and open comedo. A closed comedo is otherwise called a whitehead and appears on the skin surface as a tiny whitish or yellowish spot. The open comedo is otherwise known as a blackhead. It can be dark when seen but, despite common belief, is not an excess of dirt. It is in reality a build-up of melanin, a substance that encompasses the color of the skin. Using a gently exfoliating cleanser with anti-inflammatory aspects like Proactiv or another moisturizing product that has aloe vera can minimize blackheads and whiteheads.

Inflammatory pimples are the more apparent of the two kinds regarding skin appearance. Inflammatory acne can most obviously be seen on the face, but can develop on a number of other places on the body like the legs, chest, upper arms, back, shoulders, neck, and scalp. The zit is the most obvious form of acne seen. This is when a pore or hair follicle becomes inflamed and forms small red sores on the skin surface. This is usually the end result of a variety of signs that are seen before the actual sore is fully formed. These signs include open comedos, closed comedos, cysts, and pustules. Blackheads are clogged pores that have a darker color with a hole at the surface of the skin. The nose is the most common area that they appear but they can be seen on the cheeks and forehead as well. Closed comedos are a little bit different in that they don't have an open ended pore. They are marks that seem to be bulging out from beneath the skin. If left alone for a few days whiteheads will turn into pustules. If the zits are squeezed or popped, they will often become more infected and could cause permanent scarring. So it is a great idea to leave the whiteheads alone. Acne sufferers with whiteheads should instead use a gently exfoliating cleanser, such as Proactive solution or Noxema.

Sores with a whitish or yellowish hue are known as pustules. They can develop from whiteheads or blackheads. They are round sores that are inflamed because of agitated sebaceous glands. The body has thousands of sebaceous glands that produce an oil-like chemical 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 develop on the surface but are in reality embedded within the epidermis. Because of the size and depth of the inflammation, cysts are often very unpleasant and can be as big as an inch across the infected area. They appear as a result of the contents of a comedo moving across the infected area and the bodies defense mechanism of developing pus to minimize these effects. Permanent scars can result from cysts.

Whatever kind of pimples there is, there is an effective treatment that is out there and available.More knowledge of the different kinds of acne will give the patient a more complete idea of what the most efficient form of treatment will be. Remember, an acne problemdoesn’t have to affect you all your life. With a bit of research and time anyone can find the treatment that is right for them.