•• DermaDoctor
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Knowledge is one of the greatest weapons available to humans. Knowing how acne develops can go a long way towards the prevention and treatment of acne. Acne usually begins as a result of clogged pores in the skins surface. Sebaceous glands are located in the middle layer of the skin known as the dermis. It is the sebaceous glands where acne lesions often arise.
While there are pilosebaceous glands located throughout the body, there is no oil production or hair follicles in the feet and hands. As a result, it is very unlikely to find someone with acne in either of these locations. Pilosebaceous units are most often found in the face, neck, and shoulder region of the human body. This means that those regions are often the most susceptible to irritation and acne outbreaks. The actual cause of acne is the obstruction of these passages in the pilosebaceous canals. There are several reasons for the obstruction of these canals.
The primary reason for acne development is an over-abundance in the production of sebum. Sebum in small doses is beneficial as a moisture barrier and provider for the skin. In an overabundance, sebum servers to clog pores and the pilosebaceous canals.
Another explanation for acne production in the human body is an imbalance of hormones. This could mean there is either an overabundance of one particular hormones or an under abundance. Whichever is the case, this will almost always result in an outbreak of acne. This is why a well balanced diet is stressed for those combating acne. If you aren't getting the proper nutrients your body will work to compensate. The hair follicle wall will begin to overproduce the sebum once stimulated (this is called ductal hypercofnification). Dead cells combined with the excess sebum combine in order to clog the skins pores once this happens, conditions are ripe of propionobacterium to form which will result in inflammation and irritation and an acne outbreak on an even grander scale.
Acne generally takes two to three weeks to make its appearance on the skins surface. These blemishes will develop from the sebaceous glands and travel through the hair follicle. While this is happening, your excess sebum is being mixed with dead and dieing skin cells and excreted through the pores. As the old is dieing, the new is being born. Old cells are removed and cleansed from the system in order to make way for the new skin cells.
Under optimal circumstances, the shedding of old dead skin and the production of new skin keep the pace with one another quite well. This is actually the case most of the time. However, some people find that the process for them is quite uneven. This causes the dead cells to accumulate in the follicles, which in effect leaves the follicles clogged with dead skin cells and bacteria.
Acne can be either inflammatory or non-inflammatory. The most common form of non-inflammatory acne is called a whitehead. A whitehead is formed when the clog gets trapped inside the pores. Open pores, on the other hand, allow the clogs to pull through the skin. This creates a condition called a blackhead. They are black because of the presences of a pigment called melanin not because of dirt as some people claim.
While the following types of acne: papules (red pimples or lesions), nodules (deep seated acne that can take up to two months to heal), pustules (puss filled pimples), cysts, scars, and maculae are non-inflammatory forms of acne, they can become infected and inflamed if they are irritated. If they do become inflamed they will take a considerably longer length of time to heal than if they were not inflamed and can, in some occasions leave scars. Cysts are the most rare and the most serious forms of acne. These can take up to two months to heal and often need medical attention in order to prevent acne scarring.