|
Science of Acne in Layman’s
Terms
In a
nutshell, a few simple steps occur that cause skin blemishes.
First, acne occurs when for some unknown reason or combination
of reasons, hair follicles, also known as pores, become
blocked. Although the exact combination of reasons that pores
become clogged may not be fully known, many contributing
elements for teenagers and adults alike can include; genetics
(whether or not there is a history of acne problems and if so,
to what extent), hormones, dietary and vitamin make up (or lack
of /deficiency) and stress related factors. Other denominators
could include factors like how your body normally rids itself
of its dead skin cells and influences that may be working
against this regularity (for example climate and other
environmental forces or overall body health at the time) and
your hormones and their effect on your own body’s sebum
production (especially for females).
Second, the normal dead skin cells that combine with your
body’s natural sebum oil as it drains through the skin’s
surface become clogged in these blocked pores. This substance
becomes somewhat sticky, further clogging the
passageway.
Third, bacteria begins to grow around these clogged areas.
As a normal reaction your, your body’s white blood cells attack
the bacteria, fighting it and pushing it out of the
body.
And
forth, the resulting growths during this 14-day to 21-day
battle are called microcomedones. Microcomedones turn into
comedones, commonly referred to as blemishes, pimples or
acne.
There are basically four types of acne; whiteheads,
blackheads, pimples and nodules. Whiteheads are when the sebum
(oil) and resulting bacteria are trapped below the skin’s
surface and you can actually see a white head appear above (or
near popping out of) the skin. Blackheads are when the sebum
and resulting bacteria are only partially trapped, slowly
draining out the surface and turning black because of your
skin’s melanin or pigmentation. In the absence of either
white or blackhead are generally (but not always) smaller
pimples. And the often deeper, boil-like lesions are referred
to as nodules.
All
forms of acne can be mild, moderate or severe. Typically, mild
acne is visible in the form of whiteheads and blackheads,
sometimes pimples. With moderate acne, more pimples and
pustules are present on the face, some may appear on the back
or chest. And with severe acne, many nodules develop, often
large and sore, over parts of the face, back, chest and other
body areas. This type of acne can lead to scarring. Actually,
lesser cases of acne have been followed by scarring. So for
those with possible nodular acne, seeking advice from a
healthcare provider as soon as possible is
recommended.
A
gender issue to note is that males more often have the severe
form of acne rather than females, due to their hormones. And
the areas where they tend to break out most frequently are
unfortunately more difficult to treat, the chest and
back.
|