Acne
- The Terms Commonly Associated with Acne

Although acne or pimples as it is sometimes referred to, is fairly common, with around 60 million people in the United States and 85% of teenagers suffering from it, it doesn’t mean that it should be taken lightly.

On the contrary, something ought to be done to prevent the formation of acne because the effects can be damaging, especially to a teenager. Acne, after all, besides being uncomfortable can disfigure a face, and because looks mean a lot to a teenager, there is a strong possibility that the child will lose some degree of self-esteem.

Mild acne is characterized by the presence of comedones or blackheads and white heads, while the more severe form of acne is characterized by nodules and cysts.

Comedo or comedones are hair follicles that are plugged and enlarged. When the comedo assumes an open position, it is often referred to as blackhead, but when it is closed or embedded into the skin, it is called white head.

Although there is a huge difference in the color between the two, both blackhead and white head should never be squeezed, pricked, or picked open by untrained hands as this can aggravate the problem, bringing in infections caused by staphylococci, streptococci and other skin bacteria. If ever you want this removed, have it done by a dermatologist under sterile conditions.

Another term that is commonly associated with acne is papule. Papules are inflamed lesions that look like small pink bumps, and they are tender to touch. Sometimes, papules can even be invisible to the naked eye, but when your skin feels like sandpaper, you will know that you have them.

When papules are topped by pus-filled lesions, what you have now are called pustules. If the pustule develops over a sebaceous follicle, you are usually going to see a hair at the center. Papules can progress into cystic form, but if they heal before they can get into the cystic form, the presence of scars will be uncommon.

The solid, dome or irregularly-shaped lesions are called nodules. Nodules are often characterized by an inflammation that extends into the deeper layers of the skin, causing destruction of the tissues, and with it, scarring. Nodules can be painful, and they no longer respond well to other acne therapies except isotretinoin.

Cysts look like nodules having a diameter of not less than 5mm, only that they are pus-filled. They are also very painful, and scarring is possible. Acne is said to be very severe when you have cysts growing on your skin. If this becomes your case, your dilemma is likely to become worse.

Acne results when there is an imbalance in the hormones leading to an overproduction of oil by the sebaceous glands, resulting further to plugged sores and acne breakouts.

Usually, acne blemishes appear on the face, neck, back, chest and shoulders.

Although acne commonly occurs in teenagers, anybody else can suffer from the disease. The severity of acne may differ from one person to the next.

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