Acne Information

What is Acne?


What is acne? Acne is a term attributed to plugged pores, commonly known as blackheads and whiteheads, pimples, and even cysts or nodules, occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and upper arms. Follicles, often called pores, often get blocked with sebum (oil), which normally drains to the surface, and a bacteria propionibacterium acnes, begins to grow. Both whiteheads and blackheads start out as a "microcomedone" which then become skin blemishes called comedones. Acne can be upsetting, disfiguring, sometimes leading to permanent scarring.

There are different types of acne. A white head is a lesion where trapped sebum and bacteria stay below the skin surface. A blackhead, on the other hand, is a lesion where trapped sebum and bacteria partially open to the surface and turn black due to the skin pigment melanin.

A papule is a small solid lesion slightly elevated above the surface of the skin. A pustule, again, is a dome-shaped skin elevation containing pus: a mixture of white blood cells, dead skin cells, and bacteria. It often has a hair in the center. A macule is a temporary red spot left by a healed acne lesion. It is flat and pinkish, with well-defined borders that can persist for days to weeks. A number of macules can contribute to the "inflamed face" appearance of acne. A nodule is a solid dome-shaped or irregularly shaped lesion, characterized by pain, inflammation and extending into deeper layers of the skin. It may cause tissue destruction resulting in scarring.

A cyst is a sac-like lesion containing white blood cells, dead cells, and bacteria. It may be severely inflamed and painful, extending into deeper layers of the skin and can result in scarring.

Who gets acne? Acne affects teenagers mostly; however it can occur in adults of all age groups also. Acne starts between the ages of ten and thirteen and usually lasts for five to ten years. It normally goes away on its own in the early twenties but can stretch into the late twenties or thirties or even beyond. Some people get acne for the first time as adults.

The treatment of acne is not difficult at all. Following a clear regimen helps considerably. Gentle cleansing plus plenty of 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide gives a clear skin as Benzoyl peroxide kills the acne bacteria well. A little itchiness after an application is quite normal, and some people also experience redness of the skin for the initial couple of weeks. However, this will definitely get better because it will cure the acne and prevent any new outbreaks.

Lana Hampton is the webmaster of http://www.theacnecenter.com. Visit her site today for the latest acne information, treatments and product reviews.


MORE RESOURCES:

Dialogue Between A Teenager And The Acne
LA Canyon News
A dialogue between a teenager and acne, based off of Benjamin Franklin's "Dialogue Between Franklin and the Gout." Teenager: Eh! Oh! Eh! Why, a complexion so vile, do I wear upon my features for the whole world to see? Especially mine one and only Prom ...



Acne Control Mask from End-Zit® - Fight Acne with a High Concentration of ...
San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
ABBE Laboratories best-selling END-ZIT® Acne Control Mask is now available in a convenient 2.5oz. squeezable tube. Use as a spot treatment or apply to the entire face, back or any problem area. Visit [www.endzit.com __title__ Fight Acne Today] and see ...

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Watch out for acne 'cure' scams
WDIV Detroit
The Federal Trade Commissions has been cracking down on companies which have made baseless claims about curing acne. "I don't know if they're faking it or they are putting makeup on it or something, but it makes it look worse," said 16-year-old John ...

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Best Acne Treatment Limited Announces A New Site On The Best Acne Treatment
PR Web (press release)
This is a new site on acne infection that provides information on acne and the best ways to treat and prevent acne infection. Acne scars are difficult to contend with. The recent laser treatment reduces acne scars with immediate effect.



BlissTree

The Science Of How Dairy Causes Acne
BlissTree
But in the process, he raised another issue about what milk does to your skin: according to him, dairy causes acne, too. But many commenters were up in arms about the connection between milk and skin—you wanted the science, not just the anecdotal ...



Christine Heathman of Glymed Plus Takes Stand Against Bullying
San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
As a child and teen, I experienced bullying from family members and school mates because I was a thin girl, plus I had severe acne break-outs. The bullying was unrelenting & soul destroying. However, I refused to allow the taunting and physical ...

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Skin and Allergy News Digital Network

Four Questions Assess Acne Patient Quality of Life
Skin and Allergy News Digital Network
ORLANDO – A four-question survey can provide as much information about the psychosocial impact of acne treatment on patients as do longer, more cumbersome surveys. Dr. Peter Saitta and colleagues developed the Acne-Q 4 survey and reported that it ...

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Overweight girls more prone to acne
Washington Post
Overweight girls may be more likely than other young people to develop acne THE QUESTION Acne has no definitive cause but an array of suspects, including hormones, heredity, stress, chocolate, makeup and more. Should being overweight be added to the ...



A Multifaceted Approach to Acne
SkinInc.com
Acne is a common skin disorder affecting both genders and all ethnic groups. In fact, the condition affects at least 80% of adolescents and young adults to some degree. Research also shows that a large number of women over 25 have acne, ...



Overweight linked to acne in teen girls
Chicago Tribune
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Overweight girls in their late teens were twice as likely as their normal-weight peers to report having a lot of acne in a large new survey of Norwegian teenagers that did not find the same link in boys.

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