Formation

This is an explanation of how acne forms. It is a general description, and mentions both mild and severe cases of acne.

If the opening to the surface closes, the follicle may fill up and its wall may start to bulge, causing a whitehead. The mixture of oil and cells inside the follicle also aids the growth of bacteria. If the follicle wall bursts, the oil, cells, and bacteria spill into the skin.

The result is redness, swelling, and pus, in other words, a pimple. Whiteheads usually form from pimples. However, occasionally blackheads will form.

Blackheads are formed when too much oil is produced from the glands of skin. The excess oil collects in the pores of the skin and hardens into plug. Since the pores are open, the tip of the clogged oil is exposed to the air. It oxidizes and turns black.

This is a more severe form of acne. The lumps may be painful, and if they are not treated by a doctor, permanent scars could develop.

However, one of the best ways to treat acne is to prevent it from forming in the first place. The following section provides you with prevention tips.

Prevention

Getting rid of acne can be a challenge. You need to take several steps to make it happen. Some things you can do to prevent acne include the following:

• Stop using oil-based make-up, hair products, lotions, and creams.
• Eliminate consumption of greasy fast foods, pizza, fried chicken, etc.
• Avoid getting too much of any kind of oil on your skin.
• This includes mechanical oils and grease, as well as cooking oils should not come in contact with skin.
• Diet and lifestyles may need to be changed in order to get rid of acne (i.e. eating less sugary and salty snacks, candy, chocolate, donuts, or chips).

You are advised to learn about these in order to make sure you receive proper treatment for your condition. As you read this, of course beware that this is not intended to give you a diagnosis but it will help you take care of the problem in the event you cannot see a doctor for maybe a few days or a week.

You can use these descriptions of different types of acne in another way, too. The following will help you decide if you need medical attention:

Non-inflammatory Acne

This is the type of which the clogged hair follicle remains below the skin’s surface. Usually this type is called a “whitehead” or sometimes a “closed comedo.” You probably have just known them as small white bumps that appear on your face or body.

Inflammatory Acne

This is the one that you probably most often refer to as a “pimple” and it is usually pinkish or reddish in color, and is sometimes tender to the touch, but often appearing firm.

This type often represents lesions or sores and can be mistaken for another skin condition such as boils, hives, or herpes. They usually have pus encased in them. In some cases, they may be red at the base with a yellow or white center.

The worst varieties of these are the nodule or cyst forms of skin acne which can be very painful. These often remain on the face or body for weeks, especially if not treated.

The rarest form of inflammatory acne is the Acne conglobata. This one leaves deep scars on the skin and usually appears on the buttocks, chest, or back. These may persist in places where the skin is hard to reach for proper cleansing and could result in severe bacterial infection.

Skin Care

Obviously, the types of treatment needed for non-inflammatory acne is different than that for inflammatory acne. As you seek the right solution you should watch out and make sure it specifies what type it will treat. Otherwise, it could be a waste of your money.

New posts will be displayed in upcoming weeks reviewing more products. You are likely to learn then about what types of skin products will help in different situations. In the mean time, you are encouraged to do some research on your own.