| Acne is
small red bumps, like a rash which can
be very irritating and make you
self-conscious. The bumps can be
quite small or bigger in appearance.
Bacteria known as Propionibacterium Acnes generate certain types of
enzymes and substances that further
provoke the skin and cause further
inflammation. Mostly the bacteria
uses the oil from the body's oil glands
to develop acne. Types of Acne:
There are two types of acne lesions,
one is a form of inflammatory acne and
the other is a form of non-inflammatory
acne. Blackheads and white-heads
fall under the non-inflammatory category
and are relatively harmless.
The inflammatory type or "nodular
acne" is the worst type possible.
Inflammatory acne forms as red
blemishes, pimples or zits that can be
quite swollen and inflamed. If
left untreated they may rupture and
cause facial scarring.
Common Forms of Acne
Blackheads
-
often minute in
size, they can be very abundant in
nature and generally arise from
partially blocked pores.
blackheads look black from the melanin
pigment found in the dead skin cells.
These blackheads can last for many years
if left untreated.
Whiteheads
-
are very similar
to a blackhead although their size does
vary a bit more. Pores that are
completely blocked cause the formation
of a white head. A white head
looks white because of the bacteria
found inside them. Just like
blackheads they too can last for several
years if left untreated but most tend to
disappear when using an acne system
designed to reduce the growth of
bacteria.
Papules
-
or spots are often
very tender to the touch and appear as
small red bumps.
Pustsules
-
spots that are
bigger in size, filled with pus and hard
to resist for picking. But you
should resist the temptation to pick
these ones because they can cause
terrible scarring.
Nodules
-
are more serious
in nature as these bigger bumps hide
under the surface of the skin but can
cause serious scarring if not correctly
treated.
Cysts
-
are very much
like nodules but they have a tendency to
become infected and inflamed and often
leads to serious scarring. Again
specific treatment is warranted to rid
the body of this type of acne and to
prevent future breakouts.
What Causes Acne?
Basically the cell in the hair follicle
starts to flake and this causes a
build-up that continues to grow until it
bursts releasing oil and debris into the
skin. The skins surface starts to
swell and inflammation occurs causing
the appearance of the zit.
Other factors known to cause acne
include lithium, barbiturates, and greasy
cosmetics. Friction on the skins
surface caused from certain objects like
hats, helmets, and clothing often rub and
irritate the skin provoking acne
breakouts in awkward places.
Who Gets Acne? Over 85%
of teens experience acne at one point in
their life. For many teens the
onslaught of puberty brings enough
problems and confusion already but the
onslaught of unsightly pimples only
helps to make matters worse. For
many teens it is a very awkward and
embarrassing time. Many causes of
depression has been reported by teens
and linked to their body's appearance
and their peers perception of them.
An increasing number of adult women
are also finding it to be an
embarrassing problem as they find
themselves going through the many stages
of menopause. With the
body's hormones fluctuating like crazy,
and the added stress of this period
itself, it becomes obvious that this is
a perfect time for the body to become
prone to and promote the formation of
pimples.
Environmental Factors:
Environmental factors like pollutants,
humidity, exercising, clothing and
shaving are all examples of things that
may increase your chances of getting a
zit or two. Stress is also a major
factor in the development of a blemished
complexion.
Hormones and Stress:
Both men and women have the male hormone
Androgen in their body (the male
obviously has a higher level than does
his female counterpart) and this hormone
is responsible for causing acne.
The Androgen hormones expand the
sebaceous glands while raising the level
of oil production which ultimately leads
to the build-up and blockage of the zit.
Many teens have a terrible time going
through puberty and are often subject to
horrible episodes of acne and
problematic skin due to the changing
levels of hormones in their body
including Androgen.
For women, the female hormone
Estrogen may prove to be an ally in the
battle with blemished skin. A
young women may notice changes in her
skin due to the changes in her monthly
cycle. Some doctors prescribe
birth control pills as a way of treating
acne because it contains the hormone
estrogen. It also is helpful in
controlling a women's menstrual cycle
and may help to make her periods
lighter, regular and cause less bloating
and pain.
Treatment: No one
treatment is prescribed to combat acne.
In fact no one treatment is perfect in
treating acne. The type of
treatment prescribed for teens is often
very different from the treatment
prescribed for adults. Regardless
of the treatment, caution should be
taken when trying a new product or
regimen because it may cause other side
effects or may make the acne problem
much worse.
For more information on how to treat
acne and the types of medication and
acne products available you will want to
check out our section
Types of
Treatments. |
