Acne; A disorder of the skin or skin condition caused by inflammation of the skin glands and hair follicles: specifically, a form found chiefly in adolescents and marked by pimples especially on the face characterized by papules, pustules or comedones and characterized by whiteheads, blackheads, and inflamed red pimples or “zits.”
“Scars caused by acne are much more common than doctors once believed, most people will have acne scars that are mild. However, some will have scars that look significant even to others. The best approach is prevention and to treat acne right away as sometimes even mild acne can cause scarring, this can minimize the risk of permanent acne scars.”
Acne occurs when tiny holes on the surface of the skin called pores become clogged. Each pore is an opening to a canal called a follicle, which contains a hair and an oil gland. Normally, the oil glands help keep the skin lubricated and help remove old skin cells. When glands produce too much oil, the pores can become blocked, accumulating dirt, debris, and bacteria. The blockage is called a plug or comedone.
The top of the plug may be white (whitehead) or dark (blackhead). If it ruptures, the material inside, including oil and bacteria, can spread to the surrounding area and cause an inflammatory reaction. If the inflammation is deep in your skin, the pimples may enlarge to form firm, painful cysts.
Acne Vulgaris:
• An inflammatory eruption affecting the face, upper back, and chest,
consisting of blackheads, cysts, papules, and pustules, and occurring
primarily during puberty and adolescence.
• The most common form of acne which includes several types of pimples.
These acne lesions include blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules,
nodules and cysts.
Acne Rosacea:
• Rosacea is a chronic skin condition involving inflammation of
the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, or eyelids. It may appear as redness,
prominent spider-like blood vessels, swelling, or skin eruptions similar
to acne.
• Although the cause of rosacea acne is unknown, you are more likely
to develop this harmless skin condition if you are fair skinned, you
blush easily, you are between the ages of 30 and 50 or you are a woman.
However, men are usually more severely affected.
• Acne involving the skin of the nose, forehead, and cheeks that is
common in middle age and is characterized by congestion, flushing,
telangiectasia, and marked nodular swelling of tissues especially
of the nose called also rosacea. A skin disease of adults (more often
women) in which blood vessels of the face enlarge resulting in a flushed
appearance.
• Rosacea affects millions of people, most of whom are over the age
of 30. It appears as a red rash which is normally confined to the
cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. The redness is often accompanied
by bumps, pimples, and skin blemishes. Blood vessels may also become
more visible on the skin. Blackheads are not a part of rosacea. It
is more prevalent in women, but often more severe when found in men.
Left untreated, it can cause swelling of the nose and the growth of
excess tissue, a condition called rhinophyma. Treatment is often different
for rosacea than for acne, and it is important that you consult a
doctor can determine if what you are experiencing is acne vulgaris
or rosacea.
[Best products for Acne Rosacea:] ClearPores (Facial System)
Treatments for Rosacea Acne: There is no known cure for rosacea. The goal is to identify and avoid possible triggers, and thus reduce flare-ups. In fact, the National Rosacea Society strongly recommends that you keep a symptom diary to identify the specific triggers you may have. As you keep track of your symptoms, you should start to see a pattern within several weeks of what makes your rosacea worse. Use this information to avoid future flare-ups.
Acne Vulgaris; Mild to Moderate acne vulgaris consists of the following types of acne spots.
• Whiteheads (Most Common): »
Whiteheads result when a pore is completely blocked, trapping
sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing a white appearance
on the surface. These types of acne lesions sometimes seem to
be begging to be popped. Make sure you read about how to pop a
pimple before you attempt this. Whiteheads are normally quicker
in life cycle than blackheads. You can view a diagram of a whitehead
on the what is acne page. The Clear Skin Regimen provides a step-by-step
program on how to treat a whitehead.
• Blackheads: » Blackheads result when a pore
is only partially blocked, allowing some of the trapped sebum
(oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells to slowly drain to the surface.
The black color is not caused by dirt. Rather, it is a reaction
of the skin’s own pigment, melanin, reacting with the oxygen in
the air. A blackhead tends to be a stable structure, and can often
take a long time to clear. You can view a diagram of a blackhead
on the what is acne page. The Clear Skin Regimen provides a step-by-step
program on how to treat blackheads.
• Papules: » Papules are inflamed, red, tender
bumps with no head. Do not squeeze a papule. It will do no good,
and may exacerbate scarring. The Clear Skin Regimen provides a
step-by-step program on how to treat papules.
• Pustules: » A pustule is similar to a whitehead,
but is inflamed, and appears as a red circle with a white or yellow
center. Pustules are your garden variety “zit”. Before you pop
or squeeze such a lesion, be sure to read about how to pop a pimple.
The Clear Skin Regimen provides a step-by-step program on how
to treat pustules.
• Nodules: (more severe type)
» As opposed to the lesions mentioned above, nodular acne consists
of acne spots which are much larger, can be quite painful and
can sometimes last for months. Nodules are large, hard bumps under
the skin’s surface. Scarring is common. Absolutely do not attempt
to squeeze such a lesion. You may cause severe trauma to the skin
and the lesion may last for months longer than it normally would.
Dermatologists often have ways of lessening swelling and preventing
scarring.
• Cysts: (more severe type)
» An acne cyst can appear similar to a nodule, but is pus-filled,
and has been described as having a diameter of 5mm or more across.
They can be painful. Again, scarring is common with cystic acne.
Squeezing an acne cyst may cause a deeper infection and more painful
inflammation which will last much longer than if you had left
it alone. Dermatologists often have ways of lessening swelling
and preventing scarring.
[Best products for Acne Vulgaris:] Acnezine (Natural Acne Product)
The most severe types of acne include:
• Acne Conglobata: » Severe cystic acne characterized
by cystic lesions, abscesses, communicating sinuses, and thickened,
nodular scars. Conglobata acne is the most severe form of acne and
is more common in males. It is characterized by numerous large lesions,
which are sometimes interconnected, along with widespread blackheads.
It can cause severe, irrevocable damage to the skin, and disfiguring
scarring. It is found on the face, chest, back, buttocks, upper arms,
and thighs. The age of onset for acne conglobata is usually between
18 and 30 years, and the condition can stay active for many years.
As with all forms of acne, the cause of acne conglobata is unknown.
Treatment usually includes isotretinoin (Accutane), and although acne
conglobata is sometimes resistant to treatment, it can often be controlled
through aggressive treatment over time.
• Acne Fulminans: » This is an abrupt onset of acne
conglobata which normally afflicts young men. Symptoms of severe nodulocystic,
often ulcerating acne are apparent. As with acne conglobata, extreme,
disfiguring scarring is common. Acne fulminans is unique in that it
also includes a fever and aching of the joints. Acne fulminans does
not respond well to antibiotics. Isotretinoin (Accutane) and oral
steroids are normally prescribed.
• Gram-Negative Folliculitis: » This condition is
a bacterial infection characterized by pustules and cysts, possibly
occurring as a complication resulting from a long term antibiotic
treatment of acne vulgaris. It is a rare condition, and we do not
know if it is more common in males or females at this time. Fortunately,
isotretinoin (Accutane) is often effective in combating gram-negative
folliculitis.
• Pyoderma Faciale: » This type of severe facial
acne affects only females, usually between the ages of 20 to 40 years
old, and is characterized by painful large nodules, pustules and sores
which may leave scarring. It begins abruptly, and may occur on the
skin of a woman who has never had acne before. It is confined to the
face, and usually does not last longer than one year, but can wreak
havoc in a very short time.
Types of acne scars.
Scars caused by acne are much more common than doctors once believed, most people will have acne scars that are mild. However, some will have scars that look significant even to others. The best approach is prevention and to treat acne right away as sometimes even mild acne can cause scarring, this can minimize the risk of permanent acne scars. If you have scarring, the acne scar treatment you get will depend on the type of scars you have, as well as on your skin type. Most experience has been gained treating facial scars. Generally, scars on the chest and back do not respond as well.
Another information resource on ::different types of acne:: from “fight your acne” and ::common variations of acne:: from “skin products review“.
Syndicated by: The U. S. National Library of medicine and the national institutes of health; Merriam-Webster Dictionary; acneguide.com and by Daniel W. Kern of acne.org