The internet is a great research tool for learning about acne in the early stages so you can make a judgment on just how far your acne has developed and how you should deal with it.

Sebum is a natural substance which normally moisturizes the skin. However, when it combines with dead cells which accumulate in a hair follice, it can cause a blockage which in turn leads to a breakout of acne. For many people the worst area that can be affected by acne is the face, but it is commonly found on the chest and upper neck as well!

Here are some stages with characteristics to look out for when checking pictures of acne on the net:

Microcomedone Stage

Bacteria builds up in the pore but is not inflamed. This stage may still not be visible to the naked eye. It can lead to two kinds of comedones, whiteheads and blackheads.

Whiteheads may not be easily seen as the bacteria remains below the surface of the skin, but once the pore opens to the air the melanin or pigmentation in the skin cells can turn a brown or black color and become visible. They are often referred to as blackheads.

Inflammatory Acne

If acne becomes inflamed you may notice an eruption on the skin and the formation of a red bump called a papule.

If you see pictures of acne with a whitish area in the middle of the pimple, the condition has graduated to what is called a pastule, or as some call them, 'zits'. Some may feel tempted to use their fingernails to squeeze the pus out of them. Remember though that if your fingernails are not clean, dirt could get into the open pimple and cause infection.

A further graduation is the nodule, or cyst. Here, the bacteria leaks to surrounding skin and can cause an inflamed bump which can be very painful and sensitive to touch.

The big three search engines each have a useful image library search feature which can yield excellent results if you need to browse over pictures of acne to help in your research.

Just go to to Google, Yahoo, or MSN and use their image search. The online image library flickr also has a large collection sent in from various acne sufferers.

There are more specialist sites though giving helpful pictures of acne in the various stages with cut-away diagrams showing what is going on inside the hair follicle. You will also find suggestions for the best medication to use for a particular stage of development.

You can take some comfort from the fact that you are certainly not alone if you suffer with acne. The condition affects millions. For this reason there is a huge amount of information on the internet about this condition. Be aware that many web sites dealing with acne are there to promote products and medications so look for information written by doctors and dermatologists who don't have a hidden agenda who simply want to provide the acne sufferer with guidance on how to deal with the problem.

Why not set yourself a project to find out as much as you can about acne, check over the pictures of acne from the search engines mentioned above and the one in the resouce box below, and devise a strategy to deal with it.