Wednesday 5 November 2014

Acne: What You Need to Know About It

by Michael Russell

 Acne is a skin condition that plagues both adults and adolescents alike.  An acne condition may come in the form of pimples, whiteheads or blackheads, papules, pustules, nodules and even cysts.  Mild forms of acne such as pimples, whiteheads and blackheads usually develop on the person's face, particularly the T-zone.  The T-zone is a term used to describe the areas of the face most prone to acne which are the forehead, the nose bridge and the nose and sometimes down to the chin.  Other areas prone to mild and severe acne are the back, the chest and the shoulders. 

Acne is a skin condition that is not exclusive to a particular demographic area or region; and studies have shown that 75% of teenagers today have at least a mild case of acne.  Albeit the actual process of why and how a pimple or acne can develop is unknown, studies have provided us with common elements found in people with acne that may just be sufficient to establish a general set of possible factors that perhaps trigger the appearance of acne.  Hormones are one of these alleged factors.  Adolescents in puberty stage are more prone to developing acne as during the said stage, adolescents' bodies produce hormones that affect the actual production of acne.  These hormones - namely estrogen for females and testosterone for males - create different changes in the adolescent's body such as the narrowing of the hips for males, the growing of breasts for females and the production of acne for both.  

An in-depth study of acne shows that it affects more than a person's skin or physical appearance.  A severe case of acne, especially with a teenager, can cause serious social traumatic experiences, which may result to varied but nonetheless devastating psychological effects on the person.  In the puberty stage where peer acceptance becomes a major concern for the individual adolescent, having acne may become detrimental to developing a healthy self-image.  Thus, treatment of acne becomes a major concern.  And to be able to treat acne, one must be able to identify the type and form of acne that one is suffering from based on its respective characteristics in order to narrow down its possible cause per case, bringing one closely to its effective treatment.  

Forms, Types and Characteristics:

Acne Vulgaris

Acne Vulgaris is the common form of acne.  It can vary from mild to moderate, to severe cases and they come in different appearances.  

Mild and moderate acne are characterized by different acne types such as whiteheads, blackheads, pustules and papules.  A whitehead is a result of a trapped sebum or oil, dead skin cells and bacteria in a clogged pore that creates a white pointed top on the skin's surface.  A blackhead is a result of a semi-clogged pore with some of the dead skin cells surfacing to the top.  Pustules are simply inflamed whiteheads with a yellow pus or white center.  Papules on the other hand are inflamed bumps that have no openings or heads, unlike pustules.  

Nodules and cysts characterize a severe case of acne vulgaris.  Nodules are large, hard bumps or swelling under the surface of the skin that are much painful than papules and takes harder and longer to heal.  A cysts is an abscessed nodule with a pus inside.   

Acne Rosacea

Acne Rosacea is more common in adults rather than adolescents.  It affects both men and women alike.  It appears mostly on the T-zone, characterized by red, puffy swelling or bumps.  Acne Rosacea can develop tissues that grow on the spot of the bump that is called rhinophyma.  It can be so severe that it can cause scarring and disfiguration on the affected areas.  

Acne Conglobata, , Acne Fulminans, Pyroderma Faciale and Folliculitis are the more severe forms of acne.  An acne conglobata is characterized by interconnected lesions with blackheads that can appear on shoulders, back, upper arms, buttocks, chest, face, thighs and torso.  Acne Fulminans are more common among young males.  Acne fulminans can be so severe that it can cause disfiguring of the affected areas.  Negative Folliculitis is characterized by cysts and pustules that may be caused by skin trauma and bacterial infection.  Pyoderma Faciale commonly affects females and is characterized by large, painful bumps or nodules and swelling.  It can also result to scarring if not treated immediately.



Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Acne

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Acne--What-You-Need-to-Know-About-It/65242

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