There are quite a few different kinds of acne, depending on 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 (flush on the face); baby acne; hormonal acne; cloracne and the common variety: acne vulgaris (better known as ‘puberty spots’). We will concentrate on acne vulgaris.
Acne vulgaris may 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’ (see article on “Acne” in Wikipedia).
Acne is most common in white Western teens, although it is to be found in every country in the world, so there may be a genetic weakness to it. It is doable that it could be an abnormal reaction to quite average levels of testosterone. For most sufferers, the condition lasts only until the age of twenty or so, probably only a few years or at the most ten. For other people, though, it may be a life-long affliction. It usually appears on the face, upper-chest, upper-arms and back. Though, an occasional spot does not constitute acne.
Acne vulgaris appears in various forms, which contain: whiteheads, resulting from pores that are really blocked, trapping sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing a white advent on the surface; blackheads, caused by 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 a result of dirt, but is a reaction of the skin’s own pigment, called melanin, with the oxygen in the air); papules, which are inflamed, red, tender lumps with no head and pustules, which are similar to whiteheads, but are inflamed, and look like 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 call spots or zits. Severe acne vulgaris is distinguished by nodules and cysts. A ‘nodule’ is a much larger and more painful kind of boil and can sometimes last for months. Nodules are generous, hard bumps just under the skin’s surface. They often result in scarring and should never for any reason be squeezed, since this could cause them to last for months longer.
A ‘cyst’ can appear similar to 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 tenderness which will last very much longer than if it had been left alone. Skin experts have ways of lessening swelling and preventing scarring with both nodules and cysts. It is not right that acne sufferers are not meticulous about cleanliness.
Indeed, it is a small-known fact that, excessive washing can irritate acne. There are many, many useless ‘cures’ in the shops and many, many ancient wives’ tales. Though, any excellent dermatologist would recommend you that there is no sure-fire cure for acne and that the patient has to stay on a religious regimen of cleaning until the acne eventually ‘goes away’ of its own accord.
