Nov
22
2011
Spots Are Not Acne
Author: Owen JonesThere are various forms of acne, named according to how or why the acne developed. Some of the forms of acne are: acne conglobata (chronic boils); acne fulminans (an extreme form of conglobata); acne cosmetica (caused by cosmetics); acne keloidalis nuchae (from shaving); acne medicamentosa (caused by starting or stopping a medication); acne rosacea (redness on the face); baby acne; hormonal acne; cloracne and the common variety, acne vulgaris (also known as ‘puberty spots’). In this article, we will concentrate on acne vulgaris.
Acne vulgaris can be described as: ‘an inflammatory disease of the skin, caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, spots or zits’ (according to Wikipedia).
Acne is most common in white Western teenagers, although it is to be found in every country in the world, so there may be a genetic weakness to it. It is possible that it may be an exceptional reaction to fairly average levels of testosterone. For most afflicted, outbreaks of acne last only until the age of twenty or so, probably only a few years or at the most ten. For other people, however, it can be a life-long problem. It most often appears on the face, upper-chest, upper-arms and back. However, an occasional spot is not the same as acne.
Acne vulgaris manifests itself in many ways, including: whiteheads, resulting from pores which are completely blocked, trapping sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing a white spot on the top; blackheads, resulting from pores which are only partially blocked, allowing some of the trapped sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells to slowly drain to the surface (the black colour is not caused by dirt, but is a reaction of the skin’s own pigment, melanin, with the oxygen in the air); papules, which are inflamed, red, tender bumps with no head and pustules, which are similar to whiteheads, but are inflamed, and appear as red circles with a white or yellow centre.
Whiteheads do not usually last for a long time; blackheads can last a long time and pustules are what people usually refer to as spots or zits. Severe acne vulgaris is characterized by nodules and cysts. A ‘nodule’ is a rather larger and much more painful kind of pustule and may sometimes last for months. Nodules are large, hard lumps just under the skin. They frequently cause scarring and should never for any reason be squeezed, since this could make them last for months longer.
A ‘cyst’ can appear like a nodule, but it is pus-filled, and has been defined as having a diameter of at least 5mm and, again, can leave scars and cause pain. Squeezing an acne cyst may cause a deeper infection and more painful inflammation which will last very much longer than if it had been left alone. Dermatologists have ways of reducing swelling and preventing scarring with both nodules and cysts. It is not true that acne sufferers are not careful about washing.
Indeed, it is a little-known fact that, excessive washing can exacerbate acne. There are many, many false ‘treatments’ in the shops and many, many old wives’ remedies. However, any good dermatologist would tell you that there is no sure-fire cure for acne and that the patient has to follow a deliberate regimen of cleaning until the acne eventually ‘goes away’ of its own accord.
Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many topics, but is at present involved with Acne Treatment During Pregnancy. If you are interested in acne, please go over to our website now at Treating Acne Scars