Acne, What is it exactly?

I. Acne Defined

Acne is a chronic disorder of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands, due to hormonal changes happening inside the body. Some of the types of acne include black heads and whiteheads, pimples, and cysts. Acne usually occurs during adolescence in both men and women(adolescence stage is the period wherein we develop hormones not available at our younger years, that's why hormones are unstable - causing pimples). It can be seen most commonly on the face rather than other parts, but it can occur in the neck, chest, back, shoulders, scalp, and upper arms and legs. Most acne conditions and pimple outbreaks are a result of heredity and hormonal problems and has very little thing to do with a harmful diet and poor hygiene.

II. The types of Acne

Acne starts in an alike way for all but could take many forms and can react in a different way according to the body conditions of a certain individual. A basic lesion called the comedo is the begining of an acne. The comedo is an inflamed hair follicle blocked with oil and bacterias residing under the surface of our skin, that waits for the right conditions to rise into an inflamed lesion. Whenever the skin produces more oil, the bacterias grows within the swollen follicle. The surrounding skin becomes increasingly inflamed as your white blood cells battle against the bacteria. Two main types of acne include (1) non-inflammatory acne and (2)inflammatory acne.

1. Non-inflammatory acne

Closed comedo or Whiteheads

If the blocked follicle stays below the surface of the skin, the lesion is called a closed comedo. This usually appears on the skin as small, whitish bumps. This condition is otherwise called as whitehead.

Open comedo or Blackeads

If the plug expands and pushes through the surface of the skin, the lesion is called an open comedo. The dark appearance of the plug is not due to dirt, but due to the build up of melanin, the pigmentation element of the skin. This status is otherwise called as blackhead.

2. Inflammatory acne

Papule

This appears on the skin as a small, firm pink bump. The papules are tender in nature and are often considered an intermediary step between non-inflammatory and clearly inflammatory lesions.

Pustule

These are small round lesions that are inflamed and contain visible pus(is what they call the whitish pimple core), w/c appear red at the base with a yellowish or whitish center. Pustules do not contain a big amount of bacterias. The inflammation is caused by chemic irritation from sebum components such as fatty free acids.

Acne conglobata

This is a rare but serious form of inflammatory acne that grows mainly on the back, buttocks, and chest. In addition, to the presence of pustules and cysts, there may be extreme bacterial infection.

III. Symptoms

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