There are various types of acne, named according to how or why the acne started. 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 could be (defined|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 usually found in white Western teenagers, although it is to be found in every country in the world, so there could be a genetic weakness to it. It is possible that it may be an exceptional reaction to quite average levels of testosterone. For most afflicted, the condition lasts only until the age of twenty or so, probably only a few years or at the most ten. For other people, however, it may be a life-long affliction. It most often appears on the face, upper-chest, upper-arms and back. However, an occasional spot does not constitute acne.
Acne vulgaris appears in various forms, which include: whiteheads, caused by pores that are totally blocked, trapping sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells, resulting in a white spot on the surface; 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, called melanin, with the oxygen in the air); papules, which are inflamed, red, tender bumps with no head and pustules, which are like whiteheads, but are inflamed, and look like red circles with a white or yellow centre.
Whiteheads do not often last long; blackheads can last a long time and pustules are what people call spots. Severe acne vulgaris is distinguished by nodules and cysts. A ‘nodule’ is a much larger and more painful type of pustule and can sometimes last for months. Nodules are large, hard lumps under the skin’s surface. They frequently cause scarring and should never be squeezed, which could cause them to last for months longer still.
A ‘cyst’ can look similar to a nodule, but it is full of pus and has been described as having a diameter of at least 5mm and, again, can cause scars and cause irritation. Squeezing an acne cyst may cause a deeper infection and more painful inflammation which can last very much longer than if it had not been squeezed. Skin experts have ways of lessening the swelling and preventing scarring with both nodules and cysts. It is not true that acne sufferers are not meticulous about their hygiene.
Indeed, it is a little-known fact that, over washing can irritate acne. There are many, many useless ‘cures’ 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 sufferer should follow a strict regimen of cleansing until the acne just ‘goes away’ of its own accord.