Acne is a disease that affects the skin's oil glands. The small pores in skin connect to oil glands under the skin. These glands make an oily substance called sebum.
The pores connect to the glands by a canal called a follicle. When the follicle of a skin gland clogs up, a pimple grows. Most pimples are found on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders.
Causative agent: Propionibacterium acnes
Types of Acne:
Whiteheads:
Whiteheads, also known as closed comedones, happen when pores are clogged all the way through. The length of the pore and the head of the pore are closed, creating a little white bump on top of the skin.
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Blackheads:
Blackheads are known as open comedones because the head of the pore remains open, while the rest of the pore is clogged. They look black on the skin’s surface.
Papules:
Papules are small red bumps that form when oil or excess skin cells block a pore and mix with bacteria on the skin called Propionibacterium acnes. The contents of this blocked pore spill out, which allows the bacteria to escape into the surrounding skin tissue. The bacteria then create an inflamed lesion.
Pustules:
Pustules are small, bulging bumps with a white center and red, inflamed skin surrounding them. They are usually found in clusters on the chest, face, or back. Pustules form when a blocked pore gets infected, but they can also be caused by hormonal changes in the body. They are similar to papules, except pustules contain yellowish fluid known as pus.
Cysts:
Cystic acne is the most severe form of acne and is also the result of an infection deep within the skin. Acne cysts are large, red, inflamed, painful, and pus-filled. Cysts are softer than nodules because they are pus-filled and often burst, infecting the surrounding skin.
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Nodules:
Nodular acne consists of flesh-colored or red bumps that are deep under the skin’s surface. Nodular acne is usually a result of the C. acnes bacteria causing a painful infection deep within the pore.
★★ How does Acne develop?
Sometimes, the hair, sebum, and skin cells clump together into a plug. This result ingrowing a pimple. The bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes) in the plug cause swelling & Inflammation.
★ What causes Acne?
Following factors might cause Acne:
* Increase of some hormones (e.g. androgen, estrogen) increase in teenage year (this can cause the oil glands to plug up more often)
* Hormonal changes during pregnancy
* Starting or stopping birth control pills
* Heredity
* Greasy makeup etc.