An Acne Overview
Saturday, December 27, 2008 13:38Acne affects just about everyone at some point in their lives. While it’s most common in teens, it can affect people in their twenties and beyond. But what exactly is acne? Well, you get acne when the pores on your skin (generally your face, but it can occur anywhere on your body) gets clogged up with dead skin, oils, or dirt. This traps bacteria below your skin. This infection and the blockage can result in several things, including a pimple, a whitehead, a blackhead, or a cyst.
A pimple is the most common type of acne. It’s a red bump that appears when pore pushes the bacteria, dead skin, and oils up under the skin.
Whiteheads are pores that have been clogged up by oils and dirt. They bulge out from the skin, but unlike pimples, they aren’t as red. They are not inflammatory.
Blackheads, on the other hand, are clogged pores that are still open. They have a darker or yellowish surface and are caused by excess oils. Blackheads can be easily removed from the skin by using pore cleansing strips.
Cysts, however, are the worst type of acne. They’re clogged up pores like pimples, but the clog goes very deep. Cysts are generally bigger than pimples and can be quite painful. Some mistake cysts as large pimples due to their somewhat similar look.
Dealing with each type of acne can be a pain, and you may have to medicate your skin for years. However, if you haven’t discussed your acne with a doctor or dermatologist, you should. There may be some prescription medication or other options that can actually permanently cut down on the amount of acne you have.
