Acne Information

The Hows and Whys of Acne


A few simple steps occur that cause skin blemishes. First, acne occurs when for some unknown reason or combination of reasons, hair follicles, also known as pores, become blocked.

Although the exact combination of reasons that pores become clogged may not be fully known, many contributing elements for teenagers and adults alike can include; genetics (whether or not there is a history of acne problems and if so, to what extent), hormones, dietary and vitamin make up (or lack of /deficiency) and stress related factors.

Other denominators could include factors like how your body normally rids itself of its dead skin cells and influences that may be working against this regularity (for example climate and other environmental forces or overall body health at the time) and your hormones and their effect on your own body's sebum production (especially for females).

Second, the normal dead skin cells that combine with your body's natural sebum oil as it drains through the skin's surface become clogged in these blocked pores. This substance becomes somewhat sticky, further clogging the passageway.

Third, bacteria begins to grow around these clogged areas. As a normal reaction your, your body's white blood cells attack the bacteria, fighting it and pushing it out of the body.

And forth, the resulting growths during this 14-day to 21-day battle are called microcomedones. Microcomedones turn into comedones, commonly referred to as blemishes, pimples or acne.

The four types of acne

Whiteheads, blackheads, pimples and nodules.

Whiteheads are when the sebum (oil) and resulting bacteria are trapped below the skin's surface and you can actually see a white head appear above (or near popping out of) the skin.

Blackheads are when the sebum and resulting bacteria are only partially trapped, slowly draining out the surface and turning black because of your skin's melanin or pigmentation.

In the absence of either white or blackhead are generally (but not always) smaller pimples.

And the often deeper, boil-like lesions are referred to as nodules.

All forms of acne can be mild, moderate or severe.

Typically, mild acne is visible in the form of whiteheads and blackheads, sometimes pimples.

With moderate acne, more pimples and pustules are present on the face, some may appear on the back or chest.

And with severe acne, many nodules develop, often large and sore, over parts of the face, back, chest and other body areas.

This type of acne can lead to scarring.

Actually, lesser cases of acne have been followed by scarring.

So for those with possible nodular acne, seeking advice from a healthcare provider as soon as possible is recommended.

A gender issue to note is that males more often have the severe form of acne rather than females, due to their hormones.

And the areas where they tend to break out most frequently are unfortunately more difficult to treat, the chest and back.

Discover more resources and answers to your questions at Acne-Care-and-Skin-Treatments.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Tips for acne-free skin
Times of India
One should always keep his/her skin clean and clear as pimples and acne occur when the pores in your skin get clogged up with oil and dirt. Bacteria infects that pore, leading to acne. Always try to avoid touching the face with your hands.



Dialogue Between A Teenager And The Acne
LA Canyon News
A dialogue between a teenager and acne, based off of Benjamin Franklin's "Dialogue Between Franklin and the Gout." Teenager: Eh! Oh! Eh! Why, a complexion so vile, do I wear upon my features for the whole world to see? Especially mine one and only Prom ...



Acne Control Mask from End-Zit® - Fight Acne with a High Concentration of ...
San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
ABBE Laboratories best-selling END-ZIT® Acne Control Mask is now available in a convenient 2.5oz. squeezable tube. Use as a spot treatment or apply to the entire face, back or any problem area. Visit [www.endzit.com __title__ Fight Acne Today] and see ...

and more »


Best Acne Treatment Limited Announces A New Site On The Best Acne Treatment
PR Web (press release)
This is a new site on acne infection that provides information on acne and the best ways to treat and prevent acne infection. Acne scars are difficult to contend with. The recent laser treatment reduces acne scars with immediate effect.



Watch out for acne 'cure' scams
WDIV Detroit
The Federal Trade Commissions has been cracking down on companies which have made baseless claims about curing acne. "I don't know if they're faking it or they are putting makeup on it or something, but it makes it look worse," said 16-year-old John ...

and more »


BlissTree

The Science Of How Dairy Causes Acne
BlissTree
But in the process, he raised another issue about what milk does to your skin: according to him, dairy causes acne, too. But many commenters were up in arms about the connection between milk and skin—you wanted the science, not just the anecdotal ...



Overweight girls more prone to acne
Washington Post
Overweight girls may be more likely than other young people to develop acne THE QUESTION Acne has no definitive cause but an array of suspects, including hormones, heredity, stress, chocolate, makeup and more. Should being overweight be added to the ...



Skin and Allergy News Digital Network

Four Questions Assess Acne Patient Quality of Life
Skin and Allergy News Digital Network
ORLANDO – A four-question survey can provide as much information about the psychosocial impact of acne treatment on patients as do longer, more cumbersome surveys. Dr. Peter Saitta and colleagues developed the Acne-Q 4 survey and reported that it ...

and more »


Christine Heathman of Glymed Plus Takes Stand Against Bullying
San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
As a child and teen, I experienced bullying from family members and school mates because I was a thin girl, plus I had severe acne break-outs. The bullying was unrelenting & soul destroying. However, I refused to allow the taunting and physical ...

and more »


Overweight linked to acne in teen girls
Chicago Tribune
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Overweight girls in their late teens were twice as likely as their normal-weight peers to report having a lot of acne in a large new survey of Norwegian teenagers that did not find the same link in boys.

and more »

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