Blemishes and Acne
Blemishes and acne are often referred to as the same thing, when in reality one is a condition and the other is a disease. Severe acne can cause long-lasting blemishes on the skin, as well as significant scarring. There is no one method to remove blemishes and acne; they require different treatments. Does this Spark an idea?
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Acne Definition
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According to the FDA, acne is a disease of the pilosebaceous units, which are located just under the skin on the face, upper back and chest. These units produce sebum, an oily substance that is delivered to the skin surface by hair follicles going through the pores on the skin. When these pores become clogged, bacteria will grow in the trapped sebum. The growing bacteria will enlarge the follicle and it will show up on the skin as one of the signs of minor acne.
Causes of Acne
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The direct cause of acne is unknown but doctors and researchers have identified several factors that seem to be linked with acne. Changes in hormone levels, such as occur during puberty or pregnancy or when starting and stopping birth control pills, can sometimes cause an acne breakout. Genetics may also play a role. While dirt and dead skin don't cause bacterial growth, they do cause the blockage in the pore that leads to acne.
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Signs of Acne
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Non-inflammatory acne is the first stage of acne. Blackheads and whiteheads will show up as small bumps or spots on the surface of the skin. Both blackheads and whiteheads can release their contents to the surface of the skin and heal but, if the follicle wall ruptures, inflammatory acne will form.
When the follicle wall tears apart, white blood cells rush into the area to repair the damage. A papule, or small bump, will form as the area become inflamed. After a few days, the white blood cells end up near the surface of the skin and a pustule, or pimple, forms. If the follicle becomes torn at the bottom, it can completely collapse, often damaging nearby follicles in the process. When this happens, large pus-filled bumps called nodules and cysts form.
Blemishes
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Although acne is commonly referred to as a blemish, blemishes are actually a discoloration or dark area of the skin. While some blemishes occur naturally or are caused by other diseases, acne causes most skin blemishes. Improper acne treatment, like picking or popping a pimple, can scar some of the surrounding tissue and cause a blemish that stays on the skin long after the acne is gone.
Acne Misconceptions
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Acne is not caused by eating certain types of food. While there are myths that chocolate, pizza or greasy foods can cause the disease, there has been no scientific data to back up these claims. Acne is also not caused by a lack of hygiene; in fact, washing the skin too much with just soap and water will dry it out and cause the oil glands to produce more oil.
Acne Prevention
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There are many nonprescription products available for treating acne. Most include benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, which dry out the follicles and reducing the swelling under the skin. Stronger versions of these medications are available by prescription. There are also pills like isotretinoin, sold under a host of brand names including Accutane, that treat acne by reducing the amount of oil that the body produces. Isotretinoin has some severe side effects, so a discussion with a dermatologist is required before even considering these types of drugs.
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References
- Photo Credit woman"s side view washing face image by Jane September from Fotolia.com
