Acne Articles

Acne is a common disorder where the pores and hair follicles become agitated and inflamed, leading to cosmetic imperfections that show on the skin. These marks can take many forms including zits, cysts, abscesses, open comedos, and in more severe cases even permanent scars. Acne most commonly happens in both women and men during the teenage period known as puberty. This is when the human body begins to undergo obvious changes in hormone levels as a result of building a grown-up, adult body that is capable of sexual reproduction. Acne most commonly has an effect on male teenagers, but it is not limited to just this group. Acne can affect both genders of all ages; sometimes throughout their whole lives. This is less common but definitely not abnormal.

Sores with a whitish or yellowish color are called pustules. They can form from whiteheads or blackheads. They are round sores that have become inflamed because of itirritated sebaceous glands. The body has thousands of sebaceous glands that produce an oil-like substance known as sebum. Infection and irritation can start when the body manufactures too much sebum. 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 irritating and can be as large as an inch across the infected area. They appear as a result of the contents of a comedo spreading across the affected area and the bodies defense mechanism of developing pus to reduce these aspects. Cysts have the potential to leave deep and permanent blemishes. There are two major types of acne blemishes; non-inflammatory acne and inflammatory acne. Open comedos and closed comedos are the two major kinds of non-inflammatory acne. A closed comedo is also known as a whitehead and appears on the skin as a small whitish or yellowish lump. An open comedo is otherwise known as a blackhead. A build-up of dirt, contrary to popular belief, is not the cause of blackheads. It is actually an excess of melanin, a substance that makes up the pigment of the skin surface. Closed comedos and open comedos can be minimized and maintained by using anti-inflammatory cleansers like Proactive or others that have aloe vera.

Inflammatory acne is the more visible of the two categories when it comes to skin appearance. Inflammatory acne can mostly be seen on the face, but can appear on a number of other locations on the body like the shoulders, neck, chest, upper arms, scalp, back, and legs. The most prevalent form of acne observed is the pimple. A pimple is when the pore or hair follicle becomes irritated and forms tiny red spots on the skin surface. Before the blemish is fully formed there are symptoms that can be observed. These symptoms include blackheads, whiteheads, cysts, and pustules. Blackheads are clogged pores that have a darker color with an open end at the surface of the epidermis. They are commonly found on the nose, but can also be seen on the cheeks and forehead also. Closed comedos are a little different in that they don't have an open ended pore. They are spots that seem to be bulged out from under the skin. They will most often turn into pustules if not aggravated for a few days. If they are forced open or popped, they will generally become more infected and could become scarred. So it is an excellent idea to leave the whiteheads alone. Acne sufferers with whiteheads should instead use a gently exfoliating cleanser, like Proactiv solution or Noxema.

Whatever kind of acne there is, there is an efficient treatment that is around and available.More knowledge of the various types of acne will give the consumer a more complete idea of what the best form of medication will be. Remember, zitsdoesn’t have to affect you all your life. With some research and time anybody can find the treatment that is perfect for them.