Welcome to the Acne spot
Acne is a comprehensive name for a skin disorder with many significant subtypes. The identification of these subtypes is essential for adequate acne treatment.
Acne Types
Acne is one of the most common problems that people face during their teenage hormonally active years. Characteristically acne occurs as eruptions in the skin, usually without any further complications. Acne can affet most places of the body; but mainly the face, shoulders, back, neck and chest are the worst hit.
Though not a life threatening problem, acne is certainly a disturbing condition for those people affected. Traditionally, acne was associated with several myths so no focused treatments were carried out. In the present scenario, which gives importance to fashion and appearance, acne creates many problems and can have great impact upon social and interpersonal relationships. Their are now many conventional treatment remedies for acne; with the choice of treatment depending upon the type of acne and its severity.
Acne is a skin disease; with the commonly referred to acne condition belonging to the particular disorder named Acne vulgaris. It is caused because of the performance defects of the sebaceous glands, which provides natural nourishment called sebum to the skin.
The different types of acne are characterized depending upon their place of occurrence and their characteristic appearance features. Scientific studies show that acne is formed as a consequence of over excretion of the sebaceous glands. The secretions from the sebaceous glands then reach the skin through the follicles. The follicle typicaly then gets clogged with dirt or any other compounds, and the sebum gets blocked in the position. The clogged follicle is the acne, which is called a comedo and can be sub-classified as non inflammatory comedo and inflammatory comedo.
White and Black heads
The white head and black heads are grouped into inflammatory acne types and they are further differentiated based upon location of the acne. The white heads are formed when the enlarged follicle remains under the skin itself, and it is often seen as a white bump in the skin or closed comedo. White heads are painless and do not cause any significant trouble for the acne patients. The open comedo are commonly referred to as black heads. In case of black heads, the clogged follicle will be slightly opened and the sebum will come to skin. The black color of the comedo is mainly due to the reaction of the oxygen with sebum.
Papules, pustules and macules
The papules, pustule and macule are some other type of acnes. The papules are the lesions, which are elevated above the skin surface. Pustules are fragile lesions, and are often referred to as common pimples. In pustules, the debris of other clogging factors will plat a role and in most cases, the base of the pustules will become reddened or filled with pus. Macule is the temporary lesions, which appear as red or red pink in the spots of healed acne.
Inflammatory comedo and cysts
The inflammatory comedo is caused when the clogging in the sebaceous folic is affected by bacterium and involves white blood cells. The inflammatory comedo seems to be more serious than the other types of acne as it will cause pain and there is a risk of scarring. Nodules are a type of inflammatory acne, they are solid and may extend to the deeper layers of the skin. A Cyst is a significant type of acne, which is arisen from a sac like lesion. The very painful manifestations of acne require immediate medical attention and the acne caused by both cysts and nodules are called as nodulocystic acne.