Acne is a skin condition that affects almost everyone at some point in their life. Acne tends to show up during your teenage years, but it can affect anyone from twenty to forty years of age. Acne is caused by excess oils produced by your sebaceous glands, or oil glands, which contribute to clogged pores and lead to acne breakouts. While there is no definite cure for acne, there are several ways to control and prevent outbreaks of acne and minimize their duration or severity.
Acne that appears on the face can cause both physical and psychological scarring, and can greatly impact your self-image. There are several different kinds of acne, including mild, moderate, and severe. The most common kind of acne is called acne vulgaris and usually affects teenagers. There are several highly effective treatments for blackheads, whiteheads, and even acne scars, which significantly reduce the likelihood of scarring occurring.
When applying an acne treatment to a blemish, make sure to avoid using too much of it, as excess quantities can create a reaction and lead to irritation. Benzoyl peroxide is one of the most commonly used medications to treat mild acne. It works by cleaning out the pores of bacteria and irritating the follicle. Salicylic acid is another popular medication for acne. Salicylic acid helps to unclog skin pores and prevent the buildup of dead cells and acne pustules. Both benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid work very well when combined with other medications.
In cases of severe acne, there are two kinds: blackheads and whiteheads. Blackheads are skin pores that have become blocked, and whiteheads form as a result of dead skin cells and bacteria getting trapped in the follicle. These types of acne can lead to more serious skin conditions such as papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts. These must be treated by a dermatologist, who will recommend a course of treatment.
If you have acne, one of the worst things that can happen is for it to spread to other parts of your body, such as to your palms and to your feet. This can spread because the oil from the sebaceous glands tend to clump together and travel through the blood stream and end up in your scalp, causing inflamed lesions. You might also get blisters along with the pimples, as these areas are also highly susceptible to infection. This may include boils or fissures in your skin. If the condition spreads to your lymph nodes, you may develop sepsis, which is an emergency medical condition wherein the blood is infected.
For whiteheads, the process of infection is different from blackheads. In fact, a whitehead is actually an infection, caused by the presence of too many dead skin cells on the pores. When too much of this material gets into the pores, bacteria proliferate in the area, causing inflammation and swelling. This can then be aggravated by the production of more oil by the sebaceous glands. The pus-filled bumps can become infected if they clump together and rupture, and the bus is released through the pores.