What is acne
By: Mary GoodsTotal Views: 74, Word Count: 401,
As soon as children step into their teens they face several problems. One of them is acne. But, what is acne?
Acne or pimples are what we get on the face, back or chest when the skin pores (which were clogged by excess sebum or oil) get inflamed. 90% of the people especially in the ages between 15-25 years are known to have gotten acne sometime or the other.
Why do we get acne?
Our body keeps producing sebum or oil from the sebaceous glands which are located in the hair follicles of our skin. The openings of the follicles are the pores on our skin from where the oil is produced. As a result our hair and skin remains soft and healthy. The sebum is periodically removed from the skin surface. However, sometimes the excess production of sebum clogs the pores of the skin. Along with the sebum dead cells also accumulate and block the pores.
What causes whiteheads/blackheads?
When these clogged pores do not get inflamed but appear as raised bumps of white skin (white heads) or like dark spots on the skin, then they are called blackheads. In the case of whiteheads, the pore of the skin is simply clogged by the skin cells while the pores of blackheads are open and the inner skin pigment is actually oxidized giving it the black or brown appearance.
What causes acne or pimple?
Sometimes, it might just happen that the blocked pore gets infected by skin bacteria called Propiniobacterium acnes. Soon, our body sends millions of white blood cells to fight away the infection and the pore therefore, gets inflamed. In the beginning stages, acne looks like a tender pink patch under the skin and is called papule. Soon it swells and is often painful. There is a gradual discoloration of the skin around the pimple.
Why do I have pus in acne?
At the tip of the acne or pimple, soon dead white blood cells, dead skin cells sebum and dead bacterial cells begun to accumulate. All this mass at the tip of the pimple is the pus.
Treatment of acne
Acne can be effectively treated by topical application of creams which not only cure the acne but also remove the scars and even prevent new pimples sprouting up. Over-the-counter creams that contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acids are also known to be effective in treating acne.
About the Author
Mary Goods is a researcher in skin problems and their treatments. She is currently involved in the study of acne, their causes and how to effectively treat them. She is also involved in publishing a series of papers dealing with the effect of acne and pimple scars on the behavior of teenagers. She recommends topical application of skin creams to get rid of acne, blemishes and even whiteheads and black heads.
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