What is Acne and What are Different Types of Acne?

Acne is a skin problem which causes problems for teenagers or people from age group 10 to 40 years. Women however do get acne in their late 20’s, and it is usual even if they don’t have them in their prior years. Acne can appear over your skin in any of the following faces:

  • comedone or congested pores.
  • White heads
  • Black heads
  • Zits or pimples
  • Pustules
  • Boils and deep pimples or cysts.

These blemishes may occur any where, where you have a lot of oil or sebaceous glands. Mostly these glands occur at face, chest and back.

There are many things which you could do to treat your acne as market makes available a number of products which you could get upon prescription and with out prescription.

What causes Acne?

For acne we don’t have a single factor. It happens when after puberty we have our oil glands activated or through the stimulation of male hormone releasing from our adrenal gland and yes among both genders. Sebum or oil is a natural substance which is released for lubrication and protection of skin but sometimes it happens that under some specific circumstances, cells over the surface of the skin blocks these pores. This results in the build up oil under the blockage and so the outburst of the skin results because of accumulation of oil inside. This accumulated oil gives bacteria a place to multiply and so the surrounded tissues become inflamed because of the activity if bacteria.

When skin is inflamed near the surface pustules are produced and deeper inflammation results in a pimple and even deeper a boil is produced. If the surface of the blocked pore breaks through the result is white head and if the oil accumulated oxidized or melanin pigment the white head turns in to blackhead.

Here are some factors which generally are responsible for “Acne”.

  • Heredity: only with the exclusion of severe acne most people do not have the same problem one’s parent had had. Acne does happen with almost every one at one or another stage of their life.
  • Food: chocolate, fried food or fat rich food never causes acne. While implicated milk or other dairy foods are observed to worsen acne. So! Feel free to enjoy chocolate tonight.
  • Dirt and Sweat: they never cause acne but for the fear of dirt blocking pores it is better to have your skin cleansed. Don’t over wash; it may cause dry and irritated skin.
  • Stress: stress has never been a direct player to play with your skin producing acne.
  • Hormones: hormones have some contribution to the acne as glands are activated at the time of the puberty with the increased release of sex hormones. You may find your oral contraceptive pill working to reduce acne for they restrict hormone production.
  • Cosmetics: while choosing a cosmetic product I suggest you choosing “oil-free” and “water-based” products, this would keep your skin clogged free.

Sometimes following factors do also contribute to acne:

  • Pressure: pressure from helmets, chinstraps and collars can outburst acne.
  • Drugs: may also cause some sort of acne by increasing hormone production.
  • Occupation: in industrial jobs you may also find working with oil, this may result in acne.

Next: