In a nutshell, a few simple steps occur that cause skin blemishes.
First, acne occurs when for some unknown reason or combination of
reasons, hair follicles, also known as pores, become blocked. Although
the exact combination of reasons that pores become clogged may not be
fully known, many contributing elements for teenagers and adults alike
can include; genetics (whether or not there is a history of acne
problems and if so, to what extent), hormones, dietary and vitamin make
up (or lack of /deficiency) and stress related factors.
Other denominators could include factors like how your body normally
rids itself of its dead skin cells and influences that may be working
against this regularity (for example climate and other environmental
forces or overall body health at the time) and your hormones and their
effect on your own body's sebum production (especially for females).
Second, the normal dead skin cells that combine with your body's
natural sebum oil as it drains through the skin's surface become
clogged in these blocked pores. This substance becomes somewhat sticky,
further clogging the passageway.
Third, bacteria begins to grow around these clogged areas. As a normal
reaction your, your body's white blood cells attack the bacteria,
fighting it and pushing it out of the body.
And forth, the resulting growths during this 14-day to 21-day battle
are called microcomedones. Microcomedones turn into comedones, commonly
referred to as blemishes, pimples or acne.
There are basically four types of acne; whiteheads, blackheads, pimples
and nodules. Whiteheads are when the sebum (oil) and resulting bacteria
are trapped below the skinÕs surface and you can actually see a white
head appear above (or near popping out of) the skin. Blackheads are
when the sebum and resulting bacteria are only partially trapped,
slowly draining out the surface and turning black because of your
skinÕs melanin or pigmentation. In the absence of either white or
blackhead are generally (but not always) smaller pimples. And the often
deeper, boil-like lesions are referred to as nodules.
All forms of acne can be mild, moderate or severe. Typically, mild acne
is visible in the form of whiteheads and blackheads, sometimes pimples.
With moderate acne, more pimples and pustules are present on the face,
some may appear on the back or chest. And with severe acne, many
nodules develop, often large and sore, over parts of the face, back,
chest and other body areas. This type of acne can lead to scarring.
Actually, lesser cases of acne have been followed by scarring. So for
those with possible nodular acne, seeking advice from a healthcare
provider as soon as possible is recommended.
A gender issue to note is that males more often have the severe form of
acne rather than females, due to their hormones. And the areas where
they tend to break out most frequently are unfortunately more difficult
to treat, the chest and back.
