Acne occurs when the normal process of skin’s cell renewal is interrupted.  Inside the sebaceous hair follicles (pores), oil keeping the skin naturally pliable and moist combines with the dead, old skin cells and are sloughed off in a normal skin renewal process.  If dead skin cell turnover rate is uneven, they become gummy producing a blockage inside the follicle.  Bacteria called propionobacterium acnes that normally live on the skin can thrive within these blocked pores.  The bacteria, along with the trapped oil, swell the follicle as the skin’s natural oil production process persists inside the clogged pore.  With large amounts of white blood cells, your body attacks this infection ultimately forming a pimple.   The full pimple-causing process takes between 14-21 days.  Occasionally in acute acne, the pocket of inflammation within a pore can rupture, forming irreversible scarring damage the skin enough to form irreversible scarring.

Typically, individuals with acne have acne vulgaris.  This type of acne affects people of all ages and genders.  There are various types of pimples you can develop.  When pores become only partially plugged and a portion of the oil slowly drains to the surface, blackheads are bred.  Whiteheads develop when the pore is totally clogged, trapping oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria, giving the whitehead its whitish appearance on the skin’s surface.  Swollen, red, tender bumps that do not develop a head are known as papules.  Do not set about to pop papules, as popping papules can increase the risk of scarring and infection.  A swollen, red bump with a white or yellow head is  a pustule.  The pustule is very similar in appearance to the whitehead, but the redness and swelling is the difference.   In more severe acne cases, nodules or cysts grow beneath the skin’s outer layer.  Nodules are painful, much larger, hard bumps below the skin that can take months to rid of.Much larger, hard, painful bumps that can take months to eliminate are known as nodules.  Cysts look like nodules, but are very painful and pus-filled.  They have a diameter larger than 5mm.  Nodules and cysts have the highest risk of scarring.  Unfortunately quite often with cysts and nodules, scarring does happen.  These types of pimples require a dermatologist’s assistance.  Infection and scarring risks are much too great with nodules and cysts.

Acne rosacea is the other kind of acne.  Acne rosacea appears similar to acne vulagaris, but strikes mostly those over 30 years of age and more women than men.  It surfaces as a red rash containing pimples, bumps, and skin blemishes with blood vessels becoming more prominent.  While acne vulgaris can affect any area of the human body, acne rosacea is , most of the time, confined to the cheeks, chin, forehead, or nose.

It is very important to keep acne prone areas clean.  It is necessary to wash the acne affected area twice daily, each daywith an unscented cleanser.   Look for cleansers that contain salicylic acid or creams containing benzoyl peroxide.  Salicylic acid will dry the acne-affected areas, while benzoyl peroxide is made to increase skin’s turnover rate, helping to clean the pores.  Antibacterial face cleansers and body soaps designed specifically for oily skin are also available for the treatment of acne.  Remember that the skin needs a certain amount of oil to maintain its natural condition, so make sure to avoid aggravating acne by overwashing with strong, drying cleansers.

No cure for acne is known at this time.  The real secret for controlling acne is prevention, which involves arresting the formation of acne before it grows into a pimple.  Many prescription and over-the-counter treatments are available.  In addition, consuming a whole foods diet plentiful in essential vitamins and minerals and drinking plenty of water can  strengthen your immune system and flush toxins to keep your body’s natural defense system in peak form to defeat acne infections more easily.  Treat acne as soon as it shows its first signs to eliminate the possibility of permanent scarring. Even after blemishes go away, you often have to maintain using an active acne treatment to prevent other blemishes from forming.

Dan Rodney
http://www.articlesbase.com/acne-articles/acne-types-and-treatments-734016.html

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