When hair follicles on the skin secret a natural oil called sebum, this old travels to the pores of the skin to protect and lubricate. Some people have skin disorders where there is excess secretion of this natural oil. This phenomenon is also common among young people entering puberty where hormonal changes take place.
Excess sebum can clog the pores of the skin. Since this is a sticky substance, this could attract bacteria that touch the skin and form spots and inflammations that develop into acne.
The forms of actually are inflammatory and non-inflammatory. The smallest form which is also the start of acne is called microcomedo. This may develop into either blackhead or whitehead. Pustules and Nodules are similar to comedo but more serious. Pustules have pus-filled bumps and yellowish color. Nodules are inflammations under the skin and have larger size and firmer than the Pustules.
Papules are another form of acne that comes between inflammatory and non-inflammatory. They are the typical pimples which are mildly inflamed and do now show redness or contain pus. Acne Vulgaris is the most common type of acne and is composed of both blackheads and whiteheads. This is not very serious though can be easily treated with both over the counter and prescription medications.
Pinching or squeezing of small pus-filled acne could lead to cystic acne. This can result to pain brought about by deep rooted inflammation.
Acne Rosacea is common among middle aged adults. This type of acne is makes the nose red due to inflamed bumps. Most common infected areas are the chin and forehead. The face can also looked flushed giving the affected person an impression of being drunk. When in severe stage, Acne Rosacea can cause bulbous nose (rhinofima).
Some women get affected with perioral dermatitis wherein small pustules and papules form on the chin, around the mouth and sometimes near the forehead and eyelids. The cause for this may be attributed to fluorinated toothpaste and steroids, which is also the cause of corticosteroid acne.
Even babies are not spared from acne. Although rare, infantile acne can be present on new born babies. This is no reason to worry though because this kind of acne is very mild and may disappear after a few weeks. This may be caused by fetal hormones.
There is also a type of acne that develops in the scalp and is called scalp folliculitis. Lack of hygienic practice in the scalp area and oily type of hair can accumulate bacteria to form acne. This type of acne can be treated with acne-fighting shampoos.
Acne conglobata is a severe form of nodular cystic acne vulgaris that extensively affects the face, chest and back. Multiple inflamed and non-inflamed nodules and scars are found in many parts of the body. A severe form of acne conglobata is the very rare Acne fulminan. This is very common among men.
Acne has many forms. Although it is most commonly located on the face it can occur anywhere on the body. Cases of acne can be anywhere from mild to severe. Mild cases which can be self-treated are typically manageable. Severe cases of acne though should be treated under the guidance of a qualified health professional. A dermatologist would be the type of doctor to consult in this case.
The type of acne experienced by most people is 'common acne', its scientific name is 'acne vulgaris'. Other names you may have heard this type of acne called are whiteheads, blackheads, pustules, papules, cysts or nodules.
Blackheads occur when a pore becomes partially blocked. Sebum is the substance which causes oily skin. This along with dead skin cells and bacteria can drain to the skin's surface. This in turn causes the pigments to be exposed to air. It is this exposure that causes the black color and can take an extended period of time to clear up.
Whiteheads occur when the sebum, dead cells and bacteria become blocked in the pores completely and are held beneath the surface of the skin.
A red circle with a white or yellow center signals the appearance of pustules. While it sounds menacing this is the form of acne we know as pimples or zits.
Nodules are much larger than the other types of acne and form tough lumps beneath the skin's surface. These tend to be painful and can last for several months. This form of acne should be treated by a dermatologist as it is highly prone to scarring.
Along the same lines as the nodule is the cyst. Cysts are a form of acne that are filled with pus. Cysts also tend to be painful and can result in scarring if left untreated. Cysts should also be looked at by a dermatologist.
A rare form of 'acne vulgaris' that is extremely disfiguring is acne conglobata. This type of acne is more commonly found in males rather than females. Acne conglobata causes large lesions to form on the body, most notably on the chest, back, face, upper arms and thighs. It can also be accompanied by blackheads. It can cause damage to the skin and permanent scarring. The condition could persist for several years and could cause psychological as well as physical suffering. Another form of this is acne fulminans. Symptoms of this are fever and aching joints. The common treatment is oral steroids.
When acne is treated over a long period with antibiotics a bacterial infection can occur called gram-negative folliculitis. Symptoms of this bacterial infection are pustules and cysts.
A form of acne called Pyoderma Faciale affects females between the ages of 20 and 40. More susceptible are women in this age range who have not had acne before. Symptoms of this are painful pustules, nodules on the face and cysts. Also possible is permanent scarring. This typically will clear up within a year.
Acne Rosacea, commonly called just rosacea, typically affects people over the age of 30. A symptom of this is a red rash on the face. Also possible are other skin blemishes such as pimples. Care should be taken not to confuse this with acne vulgaris as each has a different treatment. Rosacea is more commonly found in women. However, when it does affect men it is more severe.
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