Acne

In simple terms, acne is the inflammation of parts of the skin on the body. The main areas where acne develops in the body is forehead, cheeks, chin, arms, back and chest. These are the main places where one can see the impact of acne in a mild or severe form. This is the reason why it is always advised to get a treatment done for the acne which stays for more than 4 weeks. Acne is more commonly known as pimples and this can occur at any age and to anyone. The main reason for occurrence of acne is oily skin and dirt.

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The skin gets very oily when the pores of the skin are blocked and the sebum is produced in an extra volume. This is the reason why you should wash your face after regular intervals and should head to a dermatologist if the acne stays for longer than normal duration. The main reasons for an individual to develop acne are whiteheads and blackheads as well. This is the reason why one should always get them removed once in a month so that the skin can breathe freely.

Acne can be divided in two types:

1. Inflammatory Acne
2. Non-Inflammatory acne

In inflammatory acne there are 4 types. This is acne which can stay with an individual for a longer duration and can create havoc in the skin of the individual. They types under this acne are as follows: -

• Pustule: This type of a pimple develops after a few days of constant irritation. This is the pimple where in the white blood cells rush in one direction and collect on the surface of the skin. This takes at least 5 days to settle down.

• Papule: This is the state where in the walls of the skin (follicular) have a break out. This is a type of pimple that blocks the pores of the skin and causes an inflammation.

• Cyst: Cyst is the type of acne which is the most severe of the types, this is the time where in the pimple develops a lot of pus in it and the treatment can only be carried out by a dermatologist.

• Nodule: This is a bumpy formation of follicular wall. This is a total breakout of the skin and creates a lot of soreness in the skin. This sort of an inflammation is like a big boil and stays for at least 4 weeks.

Non-Inflammatory Acne:

This type of acne is very popular and happens to everyone. This is the acne which does not create any major issues on the skin. It can be removed in a beauty salon or by the beauty products for the skin. There are two types of non-inflammatory acne:

• Whiteheads: The formation of the whitehead takes place when the bacteria and the oil (sebum) stay under the surface of the skin for a long duration. They are small spots on the skin which are white in color and generally if cleaned on time are invisible to the naked eye. They are small tiny white things on the surface of the skin which need to be removed on a monthly basis (though this will differ from person to person) as it depends on the oil secretion of the skin.

• Blackheads: A blackhead is dark brown or white in color. This occurs when the pores of the skin open up and the oil gets oxidized because it gets mixed with the air outside. The pigment melanin is secreted and the head of the pore turns black. The blackheads do not leave the skin very easily and cannot be removed by constant washing. They follow a very slow process of getting removed from the surface of the skin; and hence it is always advised to get them removed on a regular basis so that the occurrence of acne is reduced.

Always keep in mind that you should never touch the acne with bare hands as this is one of the major causes of the spread. Always keep in mind the picking of any type of acne will lead to a scar that will take years to heal. It will cause a rupture in the wall and the skin will cause a tear in the tissue as the process of self healing is stopped in between. Keep in mind that scratching the skin around the pimple also gives rise to infection and the spread can be high.

It is always necessary to take good care of the skin and self diagnosis is the key to it. It is important to know that the acne is not a life threatening disorder but can create some sort of issues on the skin. This directly impacts the well being of the person and most people suffer from a low morale because of the unpleasant effects of acne on their face. It is necessary to maintain self hygiene and keep oneself clean so that accumulation of dirt on the body is low. It is also important to get the correct treatment and always take in prescribed medicines so that there is no side-effect on the skin.