WHAT IS ACNE?
Acne occurs in many forms. Most popularly, acne refers to clogged pores turning into whiteheads and blackheads. Acne is the ever dreaded pimple. Acne can even be the deeper lumps that appear as nodules or cysts. All of these can lead to scarring if not treated correctly. Acne can occur anywhere. Although most prominent on the face, it can also show up on the neck, shoulders, chest, back, and arms. There are many different types of acne. The most common, of course, is Acne Vulgaris. The common offender to most of these acne types is: BACTERIA!
ACNE TYPES AND DEFINITIONS:
Some of the more common
types of acne include:
Acne vulgaris is the most common form of acne which includes several types of lesions. Individual acne lesions usually last less than two weeks but the deeper papules and nodules may persist for months. It is a condition that mainly affects adolescents but may persist or even become more severe in adulthood. Most, but not all, acne patients have oily skin (seborrhoea). Acne vulgaris may occur on the face, chest, back and sometimes even more extensively. Several types of acne spots occur, often at the same time. Mild to Moderate acne vulgaris consists of: Comedonal acne: non-inflammatory lesions such as blackheads and whiteheads, although some pustules and papules may be present.
Mild acne: with blackheads and whiteheads but also with papules and pustules.
Moderate acne: characterised by more painful, deep-rooted inflamed lesions, which can result in scarring. It is important to treat early to avoid this.
Whiteheads: Whiteheads result when a pore is completely blocked, trapping sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing a white appearance on the surface. These types of acne lesions sometimes seem to be begging to be popped. Whiteheads are normally quicker in life cycle than blackheads.
Blackheads: Blackheads result when a pore is only partially blocked, allowing some of the trapped sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells to slowly drain to the surface. The black color is not caused by dirt. Rather, it is a reaction of the skin's own pigment, melanin, reacting with the oxygen in the air. Blackheads tend to be stable structures, and often take a long time to clear.
Papules: Papules are small, red, tender bumps with no head. Do not squeeze a papule. It will do no good, and may exacerbate scarring.
Pustules: Pustules are similar to whiteheads, but are inflamed, and appear as a red circle with a white or yellow center. They are your garden variety "zit".
Severe acne vulgaris consists of:
Severe acne: deep rooted inflammatory lesions featuring cysts and nodules which are painful and produce scarring.If the inflammation is deep and severe, or if the spot is manipulated or squeezed, the pus can burst deep into the skin tissues rather than onto the surface. Swelling and pain take place as the body's activated defence mechanism sends bacteria-fighting white cells to the area. This deep-rooted inflammation and infection results in cyst formation.
Nodules: As opposed to the lesions mentioned above, nodules are much larger, can be quite painful, and can sometimes last for months. Nodules are large, hard bumps under the skin's surface. Scarring is common. Absolutely do not attempt to squeeze such a lesion. You may cause severe trauma to the skin and the lesion may last for months longer than it normally would. Dermatologists often have ways of lessening swelling and preventing scarring.
Localized
cystic: a few cysts on face, chest and back
Diffuse cystic: wide areas of face, chest and back involved Pyoderma faciale: inflamed cysts localized on the face of females Acne conglobata: highly inflammatory, with cysts that communicate under the skin with abscesses and burrowing sinus tracts.
Acne
rosacea: is not true acne,
rosacea,
previously called acne rosacea, is a chronic skin disease that affects
both the skin and the eyes. The disorder is characterized by redness,
bumps, pimples, and, in advanced stages, thickened skin on the nose.
Rosacea usually occurs on the face, although the neck and upper chest
are also sometimes involved. A mild degree of eye (ocular) involvement
occurs in more than 50 percent of people with rosacea.
Adult Acne: acne
in adults can be a result of fluctuating hormones that occur
naturally as we mature. Certainly pregnancy can sometimes worsen or
improve adult acne because it profoundly affects hormones.
Comedonal
acne: acne
in which most lesions are comedones (blackheads and whiteheads).Most
often affecting the forehead and chin, this type of acne may be
agravated by humidity, hormones, oily products such aspomades,
sunscreens and petroleum-based moisturisers.
Perioral
Dermatitis: tiny papules (red bumps), pustules
(pus-filled yellowish bumps) and scaling with intense itching. It is
usually localized to the surrounding area of the mouth and on the chin,
or extend to involve the eyelids and the forehead. Generally exclusive
to young women, Perioral Dermatitis may be caused by the use of
fluorinated toothpaste, facial creams, or irritants such as strong
benzoyl peroxide or cinnamon in the area.
Baby Acne:
Newborn babies,
not infrequently, get mild acne on their faces - sometimes it is even
present at birth. Infantile acne generally affects the cheeks, and
sometimes the forehead and chin. It is more common in boys and is
usually mild. In most children it settles down within a few months.
Acne cosmetica: acne caused by cosmetics, characterized by small pink bumps, acne cosmetica is usually quite mild, with little chance of scarring.
Acne excoriée: is simply scratched or picked pimples. Minimal acne lesions on the face are exacerbated by neurotic squeezing and pressing of the pimples, trying to rid the contents with the fingers. As a result, hyperpigmentation and stellate contracted scars occur, while often the original underlying acne has healed. Acne excoriée is more common in females than males, and can be a sign of stress or depression. Sometimes it is just a bad habit that's hard to break; the acne may not actually be all that severe.
Medication
induced acne: Acne can
occasionally be caused by, or aggravated by, medications (drugs)such as
Oral steroids may cause steroid acne; Contraceptive agents:
medroxyprogesterone injection (Depo-Provera) and oral contraceptives which
reduce circulating sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), can aggravate acne
in females, Testosterone, Anabolic steroids such as danazol, stanozolol
can cause severe acne including acne conglobata and acne fulminans. Athletes
and body-builders sometimes abuse anabolic steroids because they result in
increased muscle bulk - severe acne is one of the undesirable results. Acne in Pregnancy: During pregnancy, acne can both clear and get worse. In early pregnancy, acne often gets a bit worse but as pregnancy progresses, acne can often improve, possibly because of increased levels of estrogen. Severe
Forms of Acne
are rare, but they are a great hardship to the people who
experience them, and can be disfiguring--and, like all forms of acne, can
have psychological effects on the sufferer. Acne conglobata: the most severe form of acne vulgaris and is more common in males. It is a form of nodulocystic acne in which there are interconnecting abscesses and sinuses, which result in unsightly hypertrophic (thick) and atrophic (thin) scars. There are groups of large "macrocomedones" and cysts that are filled with smelly pus. It can cause severe, irrevocable damage to the skin, and disfiguring scarring. It is found on the face, chest, back, buttocks, upper arms, and thighs. The age of onset for acne conglobata is usually between 18 and 30 years, and the condition can stay active for many years. Acne fulminans: an abrupt onset of acne conglobata which normally afflicts young men. Symptoms of severe nodulocystic, often ulcerating acne are apparent. As with acne conglobata, extreme, disfiguring scarring is common. Acne fulminans is unique in that it also includes a fever and aching of the joints. Pyoderma
faciale: This type affects
only females, usually between the ages of 20 to 40 years old, and is
characterized by painful large nodules, pustules and sores which may leave
scarring. It begins abruptly, and may occur on the skin of a woman who has
never had acne before. It is confined to the face, and usually does not
last longer than one year, but can wreak havoc in a very short time. Gram-negative folliculitis: a bacterial infection characterized by pustules and cysts, possibly occurring as a complication resulting from a long term antibiotic treatment of acne vulgaris. It is a rare condition, and we do not know if it is more common in males or females at this time. Nodulocystic acne: a severe form of acne affecting the face, chest and back. Nodulocystic acne is characterised by multiple inflamed and uninflamed nodules and frequently, scars. It is more common in males. Types
of Acne Scars The term "scarring" refers to a fibrous process in which new collagen is laid down to heal an injury. It affects 30% of those with moderate or severe acne vulgaris. Most people will have acne scars that are mild. However, some will have scars that look significant even to others. There are a number of different looking scars caused by acne. They can be classified as follows:
Many times the products and/or treatments used in the treatment of acne can cause damage to the skin resulting in a skin condition known as rosacea. Rosacea can appear very similar to acne or can occur with acne. To learn more about the skin condition rosacea, may we recommend the website of the International Rosacea Foundation. Information on other skin conditions which may also be confused with acne can be found at the International Eczema-Psoriasis Foundation website. More information about acne and related conditions is available at these sites: Acne-Ltd III, Cellulite-Ltd III, Dermatitis-Ltd III, Rosacea-Ltd III, Rosacea Advantages, Rosacea Flushing, and Rosacea Lifestyles. |