Helpful Information About Acne And The Causes

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What is acne?Acne is a skin condition and occurs when the body is making an excess of sebum (oil that is preventing the skin from drying out), and this leads to clogged pores that results in lesions forming.These lesions include comedones, which are normally open or closed plugs that form at the foundation of the hairs.Other inflamed types of lesions:

• Papules
• Pustules
• Nodules
• Cysts

The four types of lesions normally develop when bacteria gets introduced with the plugs which cause an inflammatory reaction from the immune system. Acne is one of the most conventional skin conditions found in the United States.

There are four predominant factors behind the formation of lesions:

Hormones play a leading role, and that is why individuals are going through hormonal changes, i.e. puberty, pregnanc, and menopause usually struggle with acne, and this is often referred to as hormonal acne.

1. During puberty, the production of the testosterone hormone rises which results in greasy skin due to the increase of sebum production (the oily substance which is discharged at the base of hairs to lubricate and protect the skin).
2. Hair follicles become blocked and start forming clogged pores or comedones. The overproduction of the skin cells that would generally be pushed up and away from the surface also contributes to this process.
3. Comedones can worsen due to bacterial infection.
4. The immune system is reacting to bacteria and leading to inflammation.

Not all acne is necessarily inflammatory. Common comedones like whiteheads or blackheads may not be inflamed. Pimples that are referred to as pustules, nodules, papules, and cysts due to increasing severity are generally inflamed.

Symptoms of acne

Acne symptoms may include the appearance of:

• Whiteheads
• Blackheads
• Papules
• Pustules
• Cysts
• Nodules

Whiteheads and blackheads usually don’t cause any pain or swelling and are not inflamed, but they can become cysts or pustules which are red, painful and inflamed lesions. The area around the lesion may also be elevated.

Areas on the body where lesions normally occur:

• Face
• Neck
• Back
• Shoulders
• Chest

Lesions are more likely to emerge on the forehead than any other parts of the face like the cheeks, as sebum levels are usually elevated in this area.In many cases, acne can lead to complications such as depression due to the impact it has on an individual’s self-esteem.Acne is deliberated to influence eighty percent of individuals between the ages of eleven and thirty years old, especially between fourteen and nineteen years. Many people may continue experiencing acne after the age of thirty years.

Severity stages

You get three stages that include mild, moderate or severe acne:Mild acne usually involves whiteheads and blackheads primarily and normally don’t require medical intervention from doctors. (There are less than 20 comedones, or 15 inflammatory lesions, or a total of 30 lesions).Moderate acne the patient usually has both non-inflamed and inflamed lesions with some leaving scars. (There are 20 to 100 comedones, or 15 to 50 inflammatory lesions, or a total of 30 to 125 lesions).Severe acne widespread inflamed lesions and can form scarring.

Courtney P.

I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!

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