Acne Information

Acne Vulgaris is the most common of all skin diseases that affects about 80% of people between the age groups of 12 to 24 years. The symptoms can vary from quite mild to extremely severe.

What Is Acne?

Acne is an inflammatory skin disease originating from sebaceous glands and hair follicles. It is a disorder of the oil glands in the skin. Oil glands or sebaceous glands, which are present in each hair follicle or tiny pits of the skin, secrete oil that lubricates the skin and keeps it soft and smooth. If these oil glands become over active and produce excess of oil, this oil stimulates bacteria present on the skin to multiply and cause surrounding tissues of the skin to become inflamed. Inflammation is characterized by redness, swelling and pain at the site of infection.

Types Of Acne

There Are Two Main Types Of Acne

1. Non- Inflammatory

2. Inflammatory

1. Non-Inflammatory Acne: In the beginning of acne formation it is only the smallest type of lesion, known as micro comedo.It is so small that it cannot be seen with naked eyes. When micro comedones are only non inflamed skin blemishes, they are called comedones - either a whitehead (closed comedo) or a blackhead (open comedo).

* Whitehead: When the trapped sebum and bacteria stay below the skin surface they make an enzyme that breaks down sebum into a substance called “free fatty acids”, which is very irritating, and can cause swelling, redness and puss formation. This is called a whitehead (closed comedo). Whiteheads look like tiny white spots, or they may be so small that they can’t be seen by naked eye.

* Blackhead: When the pore opening to the surface is blocked by excess sebum secreted by the oil gland; which contains the skin pigment melanin, it gets oxidized and turns a brown/black color, giving rise to a blackhead (open comedo). It is not due to dirt or dust as it is dried oil and cannot be washed away.

2. Inflammatory Acne: - Inflammatory acne is a more chronic form of the problem. It is characterized by redness, swelling, pain and puss. There are four main types of inflamed acne blemishes.

* Papules: A Papule is a red and inflamed lesion on the skin’s surface. It occurs when there is a break in the follicular wall, allowing bacteria to spill into the dermis.

* Pustules: A pustule is a typical pimple — with a whitehead. It forms when white blood cells come on the surface of the skin. The white cap on the pustule is puss, sebaceous matter and cellular debris.

* Nodule: Nodules are largely inflamed lesions, with hard painful lumps under the skin. It can be sore to the touch.

* Cyst: Cyst acne is the most severe and painful of all types of acne. They are very large, inflamed lesions and feel like soft, fluid filled lumps under the skin’s surface. It may cause scarring.

Acne can make you feel anxious or depressed but with good management and appropriate treatment on time most people are able to control their acne.

Acne can be a nuisance it can mar your looks and leave ugly marks or scars if left untreated. This skin condition is progressive in nature and you need to take extreme care. Do not take the first signs of pimples lightly, for they can aggravate if not attended to immediately. It is not only important to treat the skin; you must also pay attention to hygiene. Hygiene plays a very important role in the treatment of pimples. Keeping the skin clean is the first step for the treatment of this condition.

Typically, acne occurs due to clogged pores. Our skin secretes natural oil known as sebum, and when the sebum accumulates in the pores, it is infested by bacteria, resulting in acne. By keeping the skin clean, you are removing this excess oil from the surface. When the skin surface is clean and clear, the chances of getting pimples are reduced drastically. Even when doctors give acne advice, they will emphasize the need to keep the skin clean.

Acne Treatment Advice

Here are some ways of dealing with this problem. These simple home remedies for acne and tips will make a lot of difference to the appearance of your skin. Moreover, these treatment methods do not have any side effects.

Cleansing, toning, and moisturizing: This 3-step plan is very important for acne-prone skin. Cleansing means cleaning the face with a face wash.

However, the face wash should be pH-balanced. This would ensure that your skin is not ripped of its natural oil balance. Stripping the skin of its natural oils would lead to the production of excess oil, as the skin will believe that it is dry and needs replenishment. This excess oil production can play havoc and cause more pimples. After cleaning your face, you need to tone the skin with a toner. Typically, a toner will close the pores of your skin and make it a little tight. Toning helps in reducing the accumulation of dirt. It should be followed with light moisturizing. A light, water-based moisturizer will be perfect for pimple-prone skin.

Fruit Therapy: Some fruits are known for their acne-healing properties. These fresh fruits should be massaged on to the skin regularly to keep the pimples at bay. Some of the fruits that are ideal for acne are papaya, banana, and lime. Massage these fruits once in a day and leave it for 10 minutes. Rinse with water and see the difference in your skin. Fruit therapy is the best acne advice you will ever receive from anyone.

Cleanup: A cleanup can be done at home; all you need is a blackhead extractor. As the name suggests, cleanup is the act of cleaning the clogged pores of whiteheads and blackheads. This is a simple method, in which you need to take steam for 5 to 7 minutes and use a blackhead extractor to remove cleaning the pore. This should be followed by a face pack of fuller’s earth and rose water.