Understanding Acne
Plugged pores, deep lumps and pimples are what are referred to as acne. The acne can be found on ones chest, shoulders, upper arms, neck and face. Acne is known to mostly affect people in the puberty stage but can affect 20 and 40 year olds as well. This condition has the ability to disfigure peoples bodies and upset them as well but it is not known to kill. In severe cases the patient may get permanent scars, although people whose cases are less severe can get scars as well.
Acne is caused by a combination of different factors. Overactive oil glands also called sebaceous glands cause acne by producing oil especially during stressful times and at puberty. When the overactive glands over produce oil and the pores through which oil can flow are blocked, oil gets strapped in the pores of the skin. A white head or black head comes up as a result. Bacteria do not cause acne directly but makes it worse by growing within the earlier blocked pore. The bacteria then produce chemicals that change the oil composition which irritates the skin and ultimately causes inflammation.
Among the characteristics of inflamed skin with acne are warmth, redness, swelling and discomfort. Inflammation occurs when the skin struggles to get rid of bacteria. A common type of acne is the lesion which is basically a change of the bodys tissue and is quite visible. Lesions are caused by injury or disease and occur internally and externally. Other examples of the external lesions are caused by cancer, psoriatic plaque, skin cancer and knife cut and internal ones are like lung cancer, atherosclerosis and liver cirrhosis.
The pustule is a dome-shaped type of acne with pus that contains dead skin cells, bacteria and white blood cells. Another type is the papule which normally measures 5 millimeters and occurs on the surface of the persons skin. Upon touch, papule feels like sandpaper. Nodules, another form of acne are also dome shaped but are normally inflamed. The macule also falls in the same category and can be described as an impermanent red, flat spot that replaces a lesion after its healing.
The cyst acne resembles a sac and contains semi liquid or liquid material that consists of bacteria, white blood cells and dead cells. The cyst is bigger than the pustule and is sometimes inflamed severely. Cysts extend into the skins deeper layers, can be very painful and results is scarring. Acne has many treatments and some of them are use of antibiotics, hormonal treatments, phototherapy, and oral retinoids among others.