Dermatology About Acne
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Acne is an inflammatory disease of the skin, characterized by skin deformations (lesions) caused by clogged pores, the openings of the sebaceous glands. The distribution of sebaceous glands is not even in our skin: most of them are found on the cheeks, in the auditory canals, on the chest, back, and the outer parts of the arms. When acne appears – for reasons yet unknown – the cells inside the pores scale off faster than usual and accumulate. Dead skin cells mix with the sebum and clog the pores like a plug, which causes a lump (this is what we call closed or white comedo). If this enhanced hair follicle opens up, it appears to be black; this is the so-called open or black comedo. These are the non-inflammatory acne lesions of the skin. After a while the clogged hair follicles burst and empty the sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria into the skin surrounding them. Though acne is not a serious threat to health, its most severe forms may lead to scars that remain on the skin forever. Pressing, touching and rubbing blemished skin only worsens the skin’s condition. Acne usually has two types: papulo-pustular and nodular acne. The most frequent type is papulo-pustular acne (slight acne), which is a combination of comedones and papules (spots) and pustules (purulent spots). This type can cause inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions: the latter can be found on the surface of the skin; its diameter is smaller than Nodular acne (severe acne) is more severe: nodules (nodus) appear on the skin; they have a diameter bigger than Moderate acne is characterized by several papules and pustules with a few nodules (nodus). The rather rare but very severe inflammatory type of acne is called acne conglobata, which causes a bacterial infection in addition to the inflammation.Acne usually starts with puberty and in most cases disappears within a few years without any treatment, but in serious cases it lasts well into adulthood. Some form of acne appears on 3 out of 4 teenagers. It is caused by increased hormone levels in puberty: androgens cause the skin to produce more sebum. The tendency for acne can be genetic. Other factors may also increase the possibility of acne: pregnancy, taking contraceptives, extreme weather conditions, stress, allergy to sunlight and cosmetics, disorders of the endocrine system, tumours, certain types of medicine (e.g., lithium, cortisone, testosterone, oestrogen, etc.). |