Whenever one has acne
they usually want to know what causes acne. The best way to prevent acne and
eventually what is the best acne cure.
I will answer to the
above question and other important facts about acne and pimples.
What is acne?
There isn’t one
single thing that can be attributed to be the cause of acne. Acne occurs when
cells close to the surface of the skin block the openings to the sebaceous
glands. This is something that many people are not aware of
entirely, The oil (Sebum) which is found on everybody’s skin normally drains to
the surface gets blocked and bacteria begin to grow. This is the point where
both whiteheads and blackheads start out as a microcomedone.
Types of Acne and Causes of Acne:
Two types of acne are Inflammatory Acne and Non-Inflammatory Acne.
Non Inflammatory Acne
When the trapped sebum and
bacteria stay below the skin surface, a whitehead is formed. Whiteheads may show up as tiny white
spots, or they may be so small that they are invisible to the naked eye.
A blackhead occurs when the pore opens to the surface, and the sebum, which contains the skin pigment melanin, oxidizes and turns a brown/black color. It is not dirt and can’t be washed away. Blackheads can last for a long time because the contents very slowly drain to the surface
A blackhead or whitehead can release its contents to the surface and heal. Or, the follicle wall can rupture and inflammatory acne can follow. The rupture can be caused by random occurrence or by picking or touching the skin. This is why it is important to leave acne prone skin relatively untouched.
Inflammatory Acne
Papule
A papule occurs when there is a break in the follicular wall. White blood cells
rush in and the pore becomes inflamed.
Pustule
A pustule forms several days later when white blood cells make their way to the
surface of the skin. This is what people usually refer to as a "zit"
or a "pimple"
An inflamed
lesion can sometimes completely collapse or explode, severely inflaming the
surrounding skin, and sometimes engulfing neighboring follicles. These lesions
are called nodules or cysts
Nodule
When a
follicle breaks along the bottom, total collapse can occur, causing a large,
inflamed bump that can be sore to the touch
Cyst
Sometimes a
severe inflammatory reaction can result in very large pus filled lesions.
Milia
Milia are tiny white bumps that occur
when normally sloughed skin cells get trapped in small pockets on the surface
of the skin. Milia is common in newborns across the nose and upper cheeks and
can also be seen on adult skin. The bumps disappear as the surface is worn away
and the dead skin is sloughed. In newborns, the bumps usually disappear within
the first few weeks of life. However, for adults milia may persist
indefinitely. For children, treatments are not necessary because they often
disappear on their own, but if it persists, seek medical attention. Don’t buy
drugs over the counter for babies.
Acne Cure
Below are some acne treatment options
Benzoyl
Peroxide
It may help reduce
the plugging that causes comedones. Benzoyl peroxide may be used for a mild
case of comedones or to help prevent formation of others.
Tretinoin
(Retin-A)
This is the major treatment for whiteheads and blackheads. It helps
expel the plugged material returning the pore to normal.
Antibiotics
(tropical or oral)
Oral or topical
antibiotics usually work for some Blackheads
and Whiteheads Antibiotics
usually do not help with comedones that are not infected.
Isotretinoin
(Accutane)
This is usually used for severe cystic Acne, you have to be aware that it
has many side effects. However its good for comedones when used well. It’s never
Prescribed for mild acne of either types mentioned above
Conclusion
It’s important for
you to understand what acne is before you start treating acne, I believe that
after reading the above article you now understand what is acne, causes of acne
and you now have an idea on how to cure acne.