Things You Need to Know About Acne!

Are you looking to treat your acne?

Acne is defined as a skin condition in which the skin pores become clogged and infected with excessive oil, microorganisms and dead skin cells causing redness and inflammation. Most common site for acne in the body is forehead, cheeks, shoulders, upper arms, chest and back. Nodules, pustules, papules, cysts and others.

What Is Acne?

 In the U.S, approximately 50 million Americans get affected by acne. Most children experience acne problems during puberty because of the activation of the sebaceous glands. But acne can occur at any age though it is not dangerous.

But when the acne goes, it can leave scars. The sebaceous glands secrete oil, and these glands are stimulated by the androgens present in both males and females. At puberty, androgens increase in girls and boys causes the sebaceous glands to enlarge and secrete more oil resulting in clogged pores and acne.

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 The most common age when acne appears is between 12 to 24 years of age. Pores in the skin

But the biggest problem with acne is that it reappears. The acne problem can be persistent and form acne scars. Every other teenager is suffering from the acne problems. You can treat acne with topical creams and OTC medications.

 Though it is not a life-threatening condition, it is painful and causes inflammation and redness in the affected area. One major cause of acne is having low confidence and low self-esteem, that also leaves scars on the skin. The ideal solution is changing lifestyle habits and there are also clinics offering best skin treatment for acne at highly affordable rates.

Symptoms of Acne:

Acne can occur anywhere in your body, but mostly it appears on the face, forehead, chest, neck, back, and shoulders. The whiteheads and blackheads that most individuals get are due to inflammation and these are also known as comedones.

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Whiteheads and blackheads are mild acne forms and are non-inflammatory. Blackheads form on the skin surface and are non-inflammatory in nature. These are actually opened pores that becomes clogged with dust, debris, and excessive oil. Blackheads turn black due to the presence of oxygen in the air.

Causes of Acne:

The main cause of acne is blocked pores with excessive oil, debris, and bacteria. The hair follicles contain sebaceous glands that secret oil which travels from the pores to your hair and skin.

The purpose of the sebaceous glands is to produce oil and keep your skin lubricated and protected from friction and provide moisture. But problems in the production of sebum or clogged sebaceous glands can cause acne, such as

  • If excessive oil is secreted from the sebaceous glands
  • When the skin pores become infected with microorganisms

A pimple usually appears when your pores become blocked or infected, and the oil can’t escape. Some of its causes are hormonal changes, having an oily skin, and using low quality skin products

Types of Acne:

Acne is categorized into two main types: inflammatory acne lesions and non-inflammatory acne lesions.

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1.Non-Inflammatory

In non-inflammatory acne, there is no redness or inflammation of the acne lesions. Whiteheads and blackheads are the mild types of acne with no swelling, itching, or discomfort.

  • Whiteheads

These are usually white because they form under the skin’s surface. In lighter skin, it appears as a circular, white raised bump surrounded by a red halo, whereas, in darker skin tone, the surrounding area can be black or purple-hued.

Whiteheads usually don’t cause scars on your skin. The hair appears within the blemish, or it emerges out from the center of a whitehead. When the whiteheads become enlarged, it causes the surrounding skin to become tight or wrinkled.

  • Blackheads

On the other hand, blackheads are known as open comedones. These are small and dark-colored spots or bumps. The skin around the blackheads may look right to naked eye, but the inner area is mostly darker if we closely inspect.

Blackheads are open and enlarged pores that form on the surface of your skin. When these pores become exposed to the oxygen in the air, it turns darker in color. If you experience white or blackheads, never pop or irritate your blemishes because it can result in scars and the formation of nodules or cysts.

  • Inflammatory Acne

In inflammatory acne, the person may experience red, painful, and inflamed pores over the face, chest, or back. Inflammatory acne lesions are more painful and severe than non-inflammatory acne lesions and can result in pitting and scarring on the skin surface. Many types of inflammatory acne lesions range from small raised bumps to large cysts.

Mild Forms Of Inflammatory Acne Lesions

  • Papules

Papules are a type of inflammatory acne lesions less than 1cm in diameter and from under the skin surface. These are small raised bumps that are tender and solid in appearance. The surrounding area around a papule is also red and inflamed. The bumps are not widened and don’t have a visible central area, unlike the comedones.

  • Pustules

These pustules have a central area filled with white or yellow-colored pus. The pus that is filled in the central area of a pustule is a combination of bacterial cells and immune cells that are accumulated in the clogged pore. Pustules causes redness and inflammation in the whiteheads.

Severe Forms Of Inflammatory Acne Lesions

  • Nodules

Nodules are a more severe form of inflammatory acne that is hard and inflamed lumps formed under the skin surface. These are deeper and don’t have a visible head or central area. Nodules can cause complications in your skin, such as scarring or dark spots. This acne lesion is formed when the blocked pores become infected due to bacteria and swell under the skin surface resulting in red and inflamed lumps.

  • Cysts

Cysts are much larger and painful than the nodules. These are located deep within the skin. Although, cysts are not filled with pus and are soft to touch compared to the nodules. Cysts are also a severe form of acne, and it usually requires surgery. If a cyst is not treated properly, it can form scars on the skin surface.  

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Acne Treatment

It is necessary to get treatment for acne to regain your self-confidence. There are a variety of treatment choices that are available in the market for acne including topical preparations and over the counter medications. But always consult your dermatologist before applying any cream on your skin. Otherwise, it can worsen your skin condition.

Final Thoughts

There are many types of acne such as inflammatory acne and non-inflammatory acne. When the pores become clogged and inflamed with excessive oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria, it causes acne. Acne can affect your quality of life to a significant extent as it can lower your confidence and self-esteem.

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 Luckily, acne can be managed and treated with over-the-counter medications and topical creams. The acne skins don’t look good, but you can reduce the scars with blemish clarifying creams. Many clinical salons offer anti-acne kits to prevent acne and protect your skin pores from getting clogged at highly affordable prices.