The additional sebum and the normally created dead cells clog the hair follicles. This condition attracts bacteria living in the skin to attack the hair follicles, causing inflammation and forming acne.
What happens is that after the bacteria colony starts, a whitehead or a black head forms on the hair follicle. The whiteheads and the blackheads should not be squeezed. Squeezing increases the problem rather than resolving it.
If the site becomes infected, puss appears, forming a yellow top. At the point that you get infections you need to see a doctor as acne infections can cause scaring. Some people become extensively scarred and must receive special treatment.
Because Acne has many stages and degrees of seriousness, it is helpful to have an understanding of the various types of acne blemishes and the corresponding level of seriousness of the acne causing the problem. Some forms of acne are relatively mild and others indicate deep infection of pores and their related glands. Listed below are various levels of blemishes. They are presented in order that the reader may inspect any skin blemish that appears on them and determine the seriousness of their problem, if any.
The first type of blemish that we will discuss is the Soft Closed Comedone. It is the lowest level of non irritated blemish. Soft closed comedones present themselves as bumpiness on the skin’s surface. They are not painful or red. Soft closed comedones develop when a plug of cellular debris and oil becomes trapped within the pore and and is covered by a layer of dead skin cells. The oil plug itself remains liquid or soft.
The second type of blemish is Hard Closed Comedones. They are called milia. These have very obvious white heads. Unlike pustules, milia are not red or painful. They are especially common in the eye area. Hard Closed Comedones develop just as their soft counterparts do. The difference is that the impaction has hardened and is similar to a grain of sand. The white head is not pus, but rather, a mass of dead cells and sebum (oil).
Open Comedones are the next type of blemish. The Open Comedone, or blackhead is easy to identify by its dark brown to black surface coloring. A blackhead is an accumulation of dead skin cells and sebaceous matter within the follicle. It’s top is not covered by a layer of dead skin cells, but instead is exposed to air. The black coloring is not dirt. Air causes the oil to darken much like an apple turns brown when exposed to air.
Microcomedones are the final group of skin blemishes. A microcomedone is the very beginning of an acne lesion. It occurs when the sebaceous duct and pore opening becomes becomes blocked by excess sebum and dead skin cells. Every blemish begins as a microcomedo. Most acne sufferers have many micromedomes but they are often too small to be seen with the naked eye.
With this background the reader can self examine their skin and determine if they have acne and also identify the type or types of blemishes from which they are suffering. Once the identification is made the reader can determine the type of treatment which is most appropriate.
Listed below are the various types of acne caused lesions. It is useful to know the difference in the various kinds of lesions as this can be helpful in determining the most appropriate treatment.
Papules: A papule is a red and inflamed lesion on the skin’s surface. It contains no pus or whitehead. Papules result from a high break in the hair follicle wall. This allows cellular debris (dead skin) and bacteria to spill into the dermis. This break occurs when a pore becomes filled with debris and oil, when it is squeezed or otherwise irritated. A papule often progresses to a pustule.
Pustules: A pustule is a typical pimple. It is red and inflamed and also has a white head. Sometimes the brownish comedonal core can be seen as a cap on the pus head. Pustules follow papules after white blood cells invade. The white cap on a pustule is pus, sebaceous matter (oil) and cellular debris.
Nodules: A nodule is a large inflamed lesion that occurs deep within the dermis (skin). They feel like a hard, painful lump under the skin. Where papules occur at the skin’s surface, nodules occur deep within the skin. A nodule forms when the follicle wall ruptures deep within the skin. Contaminated debris from the follicle empties into the dermis and infects the adjoining follicles. A nodule is a severe form of an acne lesion. Never squeeze or pick at a nodule. The infection is deep and the risk of scarring is high. If you are prone to nodular breakouts, see your dermatologist.
Cysts: A cyst is a very large, inflamed lesion. They feel like soft, fluid filled lumps under the surface of the skin. The most severe form of a pimple, cysts are very painful. like nodules, cysts begin as a deep break in the follicle wall. A membrane develops around the infection in the dermis. As a cyst works its way to the surface, it damages healthy skin, destroying the follicle. The likelihood of scarring is very high. Anyone who is prone to cystic breakouts needs to visit their dermatologist.