Acne Types
The term acne does not mean JUST pimples.
Acne
is a term
for plugged pores (blackheads, whiteheads),
pimples and even deeper lumps (cysts or nodules), that occur on the
face, neck,
chest, back, shoulders and even the upper
arms.
There
are
several variations of acne that skin experts
coined.
Types of
acne:
Acne
Vulgaris
(common acne) includes several types of lesions, usually called
blackhead,
whitehead, papules, pustules, nodules and cyst.
Mild to
moderate acne
vulgaris is characterized by:
Blackheads are
caused by partially blocked pores. The black appearance is
caused
by
melanin pigment from dead skin cells. Blackheads tend to be stable
structures,
and often take a long time to clear.
Whiteheads are
caused by completely blocked pores. The white appearance is
caused
by the
bacteria inside turning the sebum into free fatty acid. The whitehead
differs
in color from the blackhead because the opening of the plugged
sebaceous
follicle to the skin’s surface is closed or very narrow, in contrast to
the distended
follicular opening of the blackhead.
Don'ts:
Neither
blackheads nor whiteheads should be squeezed or
picked open, unless extracted by a dermatologist under sterile
conditions.
Tissue injured by squeezing or picking can become infected by
staphylococci,
streptococci and other skin bacteria.
Papules are small,
red, tender bumps or spots. A group of very small papules and
microcomedones
may be almost invisible but have a "sandpaper" feel to the touch. A
papule is caused by localized cellular reaction to the process of acne.
Pustules are
larger, red and inflamed-pus filled spots.
On
the other
hand, severe acne vulgaris is
characterized by:
Nodules are large
and hard bumps under the skin’s surface. Unlike a papule, a
nodule is
characterized by inflammation, extends into deeper layers of the skin
and may
cause tissue destruction that results in scarring. A nodule may be very
painful.
Cysts are similar
to nodules but can be severely inflamed and infected.
Acne
Rosacea is a
variant that
typically causes a red nose and is more common in older people than in
young
people, mostly affecting those who are aged 30 and above. It
commonly
appears as red rash, which are normally confined, to the cheeks, nose,
forehead
and chin. The redness is often accompanied by bumps and pimples. Blood
vessels
may also become more visible on the skin. People with this kind of acne
rarely
have pimples. These flashes can be triggered by certain foods
like spicy
foods and alcohol.