Acne Articles

When pores and hair follicles become clogged and form sores on the skin surface it is known as acne. These blemishes can take many forms including pimples, cysts, abscesses, black heads, and in worse cases even permanent scarring. Acne most often occurs in both men and women during the adolescent period that is known as puberty. This is when the human body begins to have big changes in hormone levels as a result of building a grown-up, adult body that is capable of sex. Acne often affects male teenagers, but it is not limited to just them. Acne can affect both genders of all ages; sometimes throughout their complete adult lives. This is more rare but certainly not exceptional.

Inflammatory pimples are the more apparent of the two kinds in regard to skin appearance. Inflammatory acne can mostly be seen on the face, but can appear on a variety of other spots 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 a pore or hair follicle becomes irritated and develops small red sores 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 color with a hole at the surface of the epidermis. They are most often found on the nose, but can also be seen on the cheeks and forehead as well. White heads are slightly different in that they don't have an open ended pore. They are marks that seem to be bulged out from beneath the skin. Whiteheads will commonly turn into pustules if left alone for a couple of days. If the zits are squeezed or popped, they will generally become more infected and could become scarred. So it is a good idea to leave the whiteheads alone. People with whiteheads would be better off using a gently exfoliating cleanser, such as Proactiv solution or Noxema.

Inflammatory and Non-infalammatory are the major kinds of acne. The non-inflammatory category is divided into two categories; closed comedo and open comedo. A closed comedo is also known as a whitehead and develops on the skin as a small white or yellow bump. The open comedo is otherwise called a blackhead. It can be dark when seen but, contrary to common belief, is not a surplus of dirt. It is actually a build-up of melanin, a substance that encompasses the color of the skin. Blackheads and open comedos can be minimized and controlled by using anti-inflammatory cleaners like Proactive or products that have aloe vera.

Pustules are discolored 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 aggravated sebaceous glands. The body has lots of sebaceous glands that produce an oil-like chemical known as sebum. When the skin is exposed to too much sebum, the hair follicles and pores become irritated and infected. Cysts are larger pus filled sores that appear on the surface but are in reality deep within the epidermis. Because of the size and depth of the inflammation, cysts are often very unpleasant and can be as large as an inch across the affected area. They form as a result of the contents of a comedo spreading across the infected area and the bodies natural defense of producing pus to reduce these effects. Cysts can leave deep and permanent scars.

Whatever kind of zits there is, there is a good treatment that is out there and available.A better knowledge of the different kinds of acne will give the acne sufferer a better idea of what the best form of treatment will be. Remember, an acne problemdoesn’t have to affect you all your life. With a bit of research and time anybody can find the treatment that is right for them.