The Different Types Of Acne

Every year millions of people suffer from acne. It is a skin disorder which affect your self esteem. Pimples, zits, cysts, blackheads and whiteheads are different types of acne.

• Whiteheads (closed comedo) are non inflammatory. When the plugged hair follicle stays beneath the surface of the skin, it looks like a small whiteish bump.
• Blackhead (open comedo) happens when the plug enlarges and pushes through the surface of the skin. Its dark appearance is not due to dirt. It is an accumulation of dark pigment of the skin called melanin. Blackheads are a form of inflammatory acne.
• Papule is the mildest form of inflammatory acne. It is a small and firm, pink bump. It appears on the surface of the skin. These bumps can be sensitive to the touch.
• Pustules look like papules but they are small, round lesions. Unlike papules, pustules are clearly inflamed and contain pus. They may appear red at the base with a yellowish or whiteish in the middle. Pustules do not usually contain a lot of bacteria. The chemical irritation from sebum components causes the inflammation.
• If you have nodular or cystic acne, you know how painful it is. Nodules are inflamed pus-filled lesions which reside deep within the skin. The pus develops because the immune system responds to the infection of the nearby area by the spillover of the contents of a comedo. The most severe form of nodular acne may last for weeks or even months. Eventually it becomes a cyst. Both nodules and cysts often leave deep scars on the skin.
• Acne conglobata is a rare form of inflammatory acne. It can be found on the back, buttocks, and chest. It shares the similar features as pustules and nodules. Severe bacterial infection may happen.
• Acne cosmetica is a relatively mild form of acne. Topical cosmetic products contribute to this form of acne. Its features include small pink bumps and local inflammation on the cheek, chin, and forehead. It may develop over the period of a few weeks or months with no scarring. Since it can persist indefinitely, you have to determine which topical products are causing the problem and stop using them.

Acne develops when your skin has too much sebum which is produced in the hair follicles. The production of sebum is related to the hormones in your body. When the pores is full of sebum, they become clogged. As a result, bacteria will thrive in this environment which cause infection in the hair follicle. This infection is known as pimple.

Today, there are many treatments for acne, ranging from controlling the hormones to killing the bacteria in the clogged pores. These therapies involve using prescribed medications and topical creams.

Before you use any over the counter products, you should seek advice from the dermatologists. Sometimes, you may experience side effects such as redness and skin irritation as the result from using these medications.