Acne Overview
Forms & Types Of Acne.
There are about 85% of people who are in the age of 12 to
24 are more likely to experience any forms acne. Others may
experience intermittent and serious forms well up to their
forties. Fortunately, this skin disease is neither hereditary
nor contagious. Or more precisely, acne is a universal skin
disease which affects all genders, ages and races.
This skin disorder is the resulted by over-induced sebaceous
glands (or the skin’s oil glands) and blocked pilosebaceous
units imbedded deep under the skin and blocked skin pores.
First and foremost, acne develops from blocked pilosebaceous
canals. If the canals are obstructed by hardened sebum and
dead cells, this combination may build up and block the ejection
of dirt and body wastes, hence providing breeding grounds
for Propionibacterium acnes or the P. acnes in the follicle
walls or hair pores. These acne-infecting bacteria will attract
white blood cells. Then, the area will be inflamed because
of the reaction of the body to the activities which eventually
lead to acne growth.
Basically, this skin disorder comes in three categories:
1. Whiteheads and blackheads or closed and open clogs respectively.
2. Mild inflammatory acne that includes papules and pustules.
3. Cystic acnes or nodules.
Acne may come in many forms, with each of their own characteristics.
Some types may be inter-related and some have their independent
origins.
1. Comedo- or microcomedo, the smallest type of lesion
2. Pustules- are pus-filled, usually yellowish in colour.
3. Nodules- are the same with pustules only varying in size
and the degree of swelling.
4. Papules- are typically inflamed pimples.
5. Cysts- are pus filled and have sac-like formation. This
is the most severe form of acne.
Some of the forms of acne include:
1. Acne vulgaris- which is the most common form which comprised
of blackheads and whiteheads. That acne can be normally found
around the shoulder, the surface of the face and the forehead.
2. Infantile acne- which happens to infants or new born babies.
3. Acne rosacea- acne occurs on the skin surface of adults,
especially middle-aged women.
4. Scalp folliculitis- or acne which manifest on the scalp
and around the hairline.
5. Perioral dermatitis- which is more common in women, characterized
by small pustules and papules.
6. Acne conglobata- or acne vulgaris in its sever form.
7. Acne fulminans- usually grouped by systematic symptoms.
Acne is a skin disease that cannot be completely cured. However,
there is always new treatment introduced to reduce the skin’s
vulnerability to acne infection. These may composed by the
following methods of treatments:
1. Homeopathic treatments, or those can you can prepare at
home and are usually available over the counter, such as soap
and water, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and alcohol
2. Topical treatments or creams which are applied on the external
layers of the skin.
3. Oral drugs or drugs that can be taken as prescribed, these
are usually composed of antibiotics such as spironolactone,
minocycline and doxycycline treatments.
There have not been any concrete or known causes of acne
for most forms. Nevertheless, several studies were carried
out to determine some of the causes which may trigger the
production of acne. The following include:
1. Propionibacterium acnes or P. acnes (the acne-infecting
bacteria)
2. Psychological stress and emotional stress
3. Unhealthy diet (basically, the basis may be the diet followed
in the West which are fat-enriched)
4. Digestive systems that do not function properly
5. Hormonal imbalances and changes, which may be the product
of the digestive system reacting to some food items
6. Cosmetics, especially the oil-based cosmetics
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