Acne Information

About Acne, itsTypes & Symptoms


What is Acne?

Acne is a chronic disorder of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Some of the characteristics of acne include black heads, pimples, cysts, infected abscesses, and rarely scarring. Acne usually occurs during adolescence in both men and women. To be more specific, acne starts during puberty and tends to get worse for people with oily skin. Acne badly affects teenage boys. Only mild to moderate forms of acne occur in middle-aged women. Acne can be seen most commonly on the face. The other places where it can occur include the neck, chest, back, shoulders, scalp, and upper arms and legs. Most forms of acne are the result of heredity and hormonal problems and has nothing to do with a harmful diet or poor hygiene.

Types of acne

Acne starts in a similar way for all but can take different forms and can react in a unique way according to the body conditions of the individual. A basic lesion called the comedo is the begining of acne. The comedo is an enlarged hair follicle plugged with oil and bacteria residing under the surface of your skin, that waits for the right conditions to grow into an inflamed lesion. Whenever the skin produces more oil, the bacteria grows within the swollen follicle. The surrounding skin becomes increasingly inflamed as your white blood cells fight against the intruders. Two main types of acne include non-inflammatory acne and inflammatory acne.

Non-inflammatory acne

Closed comedo:

If the plugged follicle stays below the surface of the skin, the lesion is called a closed comedo. This usually appears on the skin as small, whitish bumps. This condition is otherwise called as whitehead.

Open comedo :

If the plug enlarges and pushes through the surface of the skin, the lesion is called an open comedo. The dark appearance of the plug is not due to dirt, but due to the buildup of melanin, the pigmentation element of the skin. This condition is otherwise called as blackhead.

Inflammatory acne

Papule:

This appears on the skin as a small, firm pink bump. The papules are tender in nature and are often considered an intermediary step between non-inflammatory and clearly inflammatory lesions.

Pustule:

These are small round lesions that are inflamed and contain visible pus, which appear red at the base with a yellowish or whitish center. Pustules do not contain a large amount of bacteria. The inflammation is caused by chemical irritation from sebum components such as fatty free acids.

Cyst:

These are large pus-filled lesions that are usually present deep within the skin. The cysts are very painful lesions, as they are inflamed. Cysts form as a result of the contents of a comedo spilling over the surrounding skin and due to the response of the local immune system in producing pus. The cysts often leave deep scars.

Acne conglobata:

This is a rare but serious form of inflammatory acne that develops primarily on the back, buttocks, and chest. In addition, to the presence of pustules and cysts, there may be severe bacterial infection.

Symptoms

The common symptoms of acne include persistent, recurrent red spots or swellings on the skin known as pimples. The pimples become inflamed and get filled with pus. The pimples usually occur on the face, chest, shoulders, neck, or upper portion of the back. Some of the other symptoms include dark spots with open pores at the center, which are known as blackheads, bulged spots under the skin without openings, which are known as whiteheads, and red swellings or lumps filled with pus, which are known as pustules. The pustules can develop from blackheads or whiteheads. Inflamed fluid-filled lumps under the skin known as cysts are also a symptom of acne. These cysts can become as large as an inch across.

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MORE RESOURCES:

More older women being afflicted with acne
TheNewsTribune.com
“I've got uneven skin that's also oily with constant blackheads and cystic acne bumps on my chin,” Wolter said. Her once-simple regimen now involves a complicated product list: face brush, acne cover-up, face mask, cortisone shots and prescription acne ...



Ask Dr. K: Identifying rosacea triggers helps lessen its impact
Greenville Daily Reflector
Dear Dr. K: I read your column on adult acne with great interest. For years, I thought I had adult acne, but when I finally saw a doctor, she diagnosed me with rosacea. I'd like to learn more about this condition. Dear Reader: Rosacea is a long-lasting ...
Ask ShahnazThe Hindu
Ask Dr. K: Knowing rosacea triggers lessens impactGoErie.com

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Seaweed-based face wash 'could banish bugs that trigger acne'
Newstrack India
Washington, May 20 (ANI): Seaweed-based face wash could be an effective cure for acne as researchers have claimed that that an active ingredient from brown seaweed can cut spots by nearly two thirds. A new clinical trial of treatments containing the ...



Zapping the zit myths
The Daily Post
Acne can make life pretty miserable, whether you're a teenager or in your 30s. But what causes it? After all, a fresh crop of pimples can be put down to chocolate, fast food, even flirting - right? Wrong. Here, we debunk some of the more common myths .

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New York Times

When 'Younger' Skin Is Not a Blessing
New York Times
“I've got uneven skin that's also oily with constant blackheads and cystic acne bumps on my chin,” Ms. Wolter said. And her once-simple regimen now involves a complicated product list: face brush, acne cover-up, face mask, cortisone shots and ...

and more »


CoralActives Acne Products Now Available at Kinney Drugs
Albany Times Union
CoralActives is proud to announce distribution of its Complete Acne Therapy System which includes their patent pending Retinol Exfoliating Cleanser, their patent pending 6% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Serum, their 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Cleansing Bar and ...

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Daily Mail

How almost HALF of US women suffer from adult acne (but the good news is that ...
Daily Mail
By Kristie Lau Almost half of US woman aged between 21 and 30 suffer from clinical acne, a new study has showed. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found that 45per cent of women in their 20s are seriously affected by pimples.

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Technorati

Fight Acne with Blue Light Therapy
Technorati
Acne is a frustrating condition that can strike people of all ages, gender, and race causing undue stress, embarrassment, and even low self-esteem. It's a debilitating condition that goes way beyond the aesthetic appearance of the skin.



USA TODAY

Clemens trial: Cashman on stand as trainer testifies to acne
USA TODAY
Lintner testified that he treated Clemens for what appeared to be acne on his back in 2005. Although Lintner said acne could be a side effect of steroid use, he said he did not suspect it to be the cause of Clemens' acne at the time.
No Sign Clemens Used Steroids, Says Astros DoctorHartford Courant
Yankees GM: Roger Clemens pushed team to hire trainer Brian McNameeCBS News

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Glaxo's Acne Drug Gets US Nod
Zacks.com
Fabior Foam, 0.1% is approved as a topical treatment for acne vulgaris in patients 12 years and above. The approval was based on data from two pivotal phase III studies conducted with Fabior Foam. The 12-week, randomized and double-blind trials were ...
US FDA approves Stiefel's Fabior Foam, 0.1% to treat acnepharmabiz.com
FDA backs new acne application 'Fabior Foam'CosmeticsDesign.com USA
GSK gets approval for acne treatment in USAPharma Times
MENAFN.COM
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