Sunday, March 1, 2009

Understanding Acne

By Norman

Plugged pores, deep lumps and pimples are what are referred to as acne. The acne can be found on ones chest, shoulders, upper arms, neck and face. Acne is known to mostly affect people in the puberty stage but can affect 20 and 40 year olds as well. This condition has the ability to disfigure peoples bodies and upset them as well but it is not known to kill. In severe cases the patient may get permanent scars, although people whose cases are less severe can get scars as well.

Acne is caused by a number of factors that toil together resulting in the condition. The overactive oil glands known in other quarters as sebaceous glands cause the condition by enlarging and overproducing oil during puberty and stressful times. The oil produced by the sebaceous glands often gets trapped in clogged pores of the skin and this results in white heads and blackheads. Bacteria on their own are not cause for the condition but they are known to worsen the condition by growing in clogged pores. The bacterium worsens the situation by changing the composition of the oil using the chemicals it produces which in turn leads to skin irritation and ultimately inflammation arises.

Among the characteristics of inflamed skin with acne are warmth, redness, swelling and discomfort. Inflammation occurs when the skin struggles to get rid of bacteria. A common type of acne is the lesion which is basically a change of the bodys tissue and is quite visible. Lesions are caused by injury or disease and occur internally and externally. Other examples of the external lesions are caused by cancer, psoriatic plaque, skin cancer and knife cut and internal ones are like lung cancer, atherosclerosis and liver cirrhosis.

The pustule is a dome-shaped type of acne with pus that contains dead skin cells, bacteria and white blood cells. Another type is the papule which normally measures 5 millimeters and occurs on the surface of the persons skin. Upon touch, papule feels like sandpaper. Nodules, another form of acne are also dome shaped but are normally inflamed. The macule also falls in the same category and can be described as an impermanent red, flat spot that replaces a lesion after its healing.

Cysts are a type of acne that resemble sacs and contain liquid and semi liquid substances which have dead cells, white blood cells and bacteria inside them. Compared to pustules, cysts are bigger and more inflamed. Cysts penetrate deep into the layers of the skin, cause scars and are very painful. A patient with acne can use treatments such as oral retinoids, antibiotics, and hormonal treatments among others. - 15275

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