What is Acne?

Acne is the most common skin disease on the planet. It is most common in teenagers, but in reality it can occur in a body of any age. Acne occurs most commonly on the face, chest, neck shoulders and back. Typically is starts in puberty and affects nearly 90% of teenagers in some way. It usually ceases at the end of adolescence, but may continue into adulthood. Acne itself generally has no biological repercussions, but can damage self esteem or social life of the patient.

Types of Acne.

There are two types of acne : 1. Non-inflammatory acne and 2. Inflammatory acne.

1. Non-inflammatory acne. This is a common form of acne, that causes either "whiteheads" of "blackheads". These are the result of comedones, which are skin blemishes formed from microcomedomes in the skin.
Whiteheads form when trapped sebum (a natural product of the skin) and bacteria stay below the skin. They show up as small white spots.

Blackheads occur when the pores in the skin are open to the surface, and the sebum oxidises and turns a dark colour (black or brown). This cannot be washed away, and may be mistaken for dirt or grit in the skin at first. Generally blackheads last a long time. They are quite common and not noticeable until up-close. They often come in clusters on or around the nose.

2. Inflammatory acne. There are four mains ways in which non-inflammatory acne surfaces : Papules, Pastules, Nodules and Cysts.
Papules occur when white blood cells rush in after a break in the skin's follicur wall. The pore then become inflamed. This can lead to a Pastule, when some time later the white blood cells find a way to the skin's surface. This is known commonly as a "zit" and they are often "popped" or burst by the patient. This results in an outburst of sebum, bacteria and white blood cells, known in slang as "pus".

Nodules or cysts are more severe forms of acne, formed when skin becomes inflamed from a lesion which has collapsed or exploded. Nodules are red bumps which can be painful to the touch. Cysts are large lesions which can are often full of pus.

Milia is a minor form of acne common in newborn babies. This is a series of tiny white bumps on the skin formed when skin cells are trapped in small pockets of the skin. These usually disappear within time and with washing/exfoliation.