Types Of Acne
Acne comes in a number of different varieties. You can more easily cure acne once you understand what types of acne exist and what causes it. Most kinds of acne are relatively easy to treat. However, some kinds of acne are serious and can leave permanent scarring. Still, acne has rarely if ever been determined as the cause of death. If you will read through this article you will learn the different kinds of acne that exist. With that knowledge you will want to research the causes of acne.
Though many different kinds of acne exist, by far the most common form of acne is known as 'Acne vulgaris' which is the subject of this article. Acne vulgaris can manifest itself in 4 specific forms which are in one way or another inflammation of the skin. Most acne appears on the parts of the skin that have the most sebaceous follicles. These areas include the face, the upper part of the back and chest and the buttocks. Acne, for the most part consists of hair follicles that have been blocked. Often they are inflamed and infected as well. Below the surface of the skin are glands called sebaceous glands that produce an oil called sebus. When dead skin, dirt and/or debris block the opening of the follicle the sebus gets trapped along with the dead skin, debris and often live bacteria. The result is a case of acne.
Whiteheads are cases where the surface of the skin is completely blocked off. You can generally see a small white 'head' in the center of an inflamed area. Sebus, dead skin and bacteria make up the white head. As long as you keep your face clean whiteheads generally heal pretty quickly.
Blackheads are cases where the opening of the follicle is clogged but allows some of the sebum and dead skin to escape. The black color is caused by the pigment melanin as it reacts to the oxygen in the air. Blackheads are not very quick to heal on their own.
Papules do not have a head. They are red inflamed bumps on the skin's surface and they generally hurt quite a bit. The body works rather hard to heals papules but they are painful and can take some time to heal.
Pustules are much like papules except that they do have a white head at their center. Like papules, they are generally painful to the touch. They are quite common and are generally referred to as a 'zit'.
More severe forms of acne vulgaris exist. These forms should be taken more seriously and should not be popped or lacerated.
A Nodule is like a papule except that it is much larger and very painful. They are deeper under the skin and generally do not quite form an actual white head. Nodules can be very persistent, often remaining for months. Attempts to eradicate them by popping or lacerating them can worsen the case. Nodules often leave scars. Sometimes nodules will leave an impaction under the skin which can be the source of repeated inflammations.
A Cyst is much like a Nodule. It is 5mm in diameter or more. A cyst will generally develop a large white head though it is deeper under the skin than a pustule. Cysts are notoriously painful. They will also quite often cause scarring, especially if not left alone to allow the body's defence systems to heal it.
Severe forms of acne do exist that leave nasty scars on the skin's surface.
Acne Conglobata is a very severe form of acne vulgaris. It consists of blotches of severe nodules with blackheads throughout them and they are often interconnected. Acne Conglobata usually causes extensive scarring and disfigurement of the skin. This type of acne is near untreatable. Rapid formation of Acne Conglobata is termed Acne Fulminans.
Acne, no matter what its form or how severe can almost always be treated. The trick is to learn what types there are, what causes it and then what the best proven methods are to treat acne.