Acne

 

Acne vulgarisis a condition involving blemishes (or lesions) of the skin that affects most people at some stage of their life.

Tiny openings on the skin (pores) typically hold a single, tiny hair (follicle). A group of cells called sebaceous glands is located at the bottom of each follicle. These glands make an oily substance called sebum.

 

The body uses the sebum to lubricate the hair and skin. Movement of sebum from the sebaceous glands to the skin surface helps to clean out the follicle, carrying away dead skin cells, hair cells, and bacteria.

When the follicle becomes clogged and the sebum is trapped inside, the familiar Acne blemishes can develop. These blemishes can appear as dark-colored follicle plugs, small white pimples, or red, swollen, and painful bumps under the skin.

 

Acne:

 

typically affects adolescents from about 11 years of age through the mid-teens. However, Acne can affect both younger children and people in the 20- to 40-year age group. It usually goes away without any permanent damage, although scarring is possible in some cases.

Recognizing the symptoms

Acne can involve the face, scalp, neck, chest, back, shoulders, and upper arms and legs. The lesions can be any of several types and more than one type of lesion may be present at the same time.

 

Blackhead (open comedone):

 

A follicle plug made up of dried sebum, dead skin and hair cells, and a skin chemical called melanin that gives the blackhead its dark color.

Whitehead (closed comedone):

A follicle follicle appearing as a white or skin-colored bump under the skin.

 

Papule, pustule, or nodule:

 

A more serious lesion appearing red and swollen due to inflammation or infection of the tissue around the clogged follicle which is often painful and feels hard. This can lead to scarring in most people.