What Is Acne?
Disease today known as "Acne" was recognized by man in times when he did not even know how to write.
It is evident from history that pharaohs even suffered from this disease.
It was well known disease in the times of Aristotle.
The term Acne came from the Greek word 'akun'.
Aetius Amidenus used the term Acne and he used it for the presence of pustules and papules.
Acne is not among the life threatening diseases.
Acne is defined as inflammatory disease of the skin.
Common most type of Acne is Acne Vulgaris.
It is inflammatory eruption of the skin of face, upper back, and chest.
It is mostly found in the young adults.
Second common type of Acne is 'Acne rosacea'.
In Acne rosacea facial skin is affected by the presence of blushing, swelling and broken blood vessels in spider web pattern.
It will cause severe scaring of the facial skin.
In the human body follicles are present.
These follicles are present in the skin.
Acne is the blockage of these follicles.
Soon after the blockage of follicles, a plug of sebum and keratin is formed which is accompanied by the hyperkeratinization.
After this, sebaceous gland is enlarged as a result of increased sebum production.
This is due to increased androgen production.
Plug of keratin and sebum is called microcomedo which will continue to enlarge.
This enlargement of microcomedo results in formation of open comedone or commonly known as black head.
Closed comedone are called whiteheads and are developed by the direct clogging of sebum in the sebaceous gland.
In the dermis there is largely commensal bacteria called propionibacterium acnes which will cause inflammation.
It will result in the lesions or inflammatory lesions around comedone in the dermis.
This will end up with redness of skin and hyper pigmentation.
Hyper pigmentation is also called scarring.
Symptoms of acne are inflammatory and non-inflammatory.
If there are small number of whiteheads and blackheads then it is non-inflammatory acne.
It is less severe and prescribed medicines are rarely used for its treatment.
It is usually treated by cosmetics and not by medicines.
Occurrence of non-inflammatory acne is much higher then inflammatory acne.
Inflammatory acne is characterized by the presence of inflamed whiteheads along with red pimples, and pustules develop.
It can result in to cysts and deep pitting scars on the area of face, neck, back, chest and groin.
It is most severe form of acne and its treatment include prescription drugs.
Depending on its severity, treatment can be surgery as well.
To avoid acne, following preventions are important: -Presence of excess oil on the skin surface can cause acne; use of an astringent can help in removing excess oil.
-If your skin is rough and need moisturizer daily, try to use oil free moisturizers.
-Try to use water based cosmetics rather then oil based.
-Honey mask should be used once a week.
Honey being a good disinfectant will kill bacteria in the skin.
-Try to wash your face with sulfur based soap twice a day.
-Do not scrub.
-Always remove your make up before going to bed and do not use any kind of lotion or cream before sleeping.
-You should drink 8 glass of water daily to avoid dehydration of the skin.
It is evident from history that pharaohs even suffered from this disease.
It was well known disease in the times of Aristotle.
The term Acne came from the Greek word 'akun'.
Aetius Amidenus used the term Acne and he used it for the presence of pustules and papules.
Acne is not among the life threatening diseases.
Acne is defined as inflammatory disease of the skin.
Common most type of Acne is Acne Vulgaris.
It is inflammatory eruption of the skin of face, upper back, and chest.
It is mostly found in the young adults.
Second common type of Acne is 'Acne rosacea'.
In Acne rosacea facial skin is affected by the presence of blushing, swelling and broken blood vessels in spider web pattern.
It will cause severe scaring of the facial skin.
In the human body follicles are present.
These follicles are present in the skin.
Acne is the blockage of these follicles.
Soon after the blockage of follicles, a plug of sebum and keratin is formed which is accompanied by the hyperkeratinization.
After this, sebaceous gland is enlarged as a result of increased sebum production.
This is due to increased androgen production.
Plug of keratin and sebum is called microcomedo which will continue to enlarge.
This enlargement of microcomedo results in formation of open comedone or commonly known as black head.
Closed comedone are called whiteheads and are developed by the direct clogging of sebum in the sebaceous gland.
In the dermis there is largely commensal bacteria called propionibacterium acnes which will cause inflammation.
It will result in the lesions or inflammatory lesions around comedone in the dermis.
This will end up with redness of skin and hyper pigmentation.
Hyper pigmentation is also called scarring.
Symptoms of acne are inflammatory and non-inflammatory.
If there are small number of whiteheads and blackheads then it is non-inflammatory acne.
It is less severe and prescribed medicines are rarely used for its treatment.
It is usually treated by cosmetics and not by medicines.
Occurrence of non-inflammatory acne is much higher then inflammatory acne.
Inflammatory acne is characterized by the presence of inflamed whiteheads along with red pimples, and pustules develop.
It can result in to cysts and deep pitting scars on the area of face, neck, back, chest and groin.
It is most severe form of acne and its treatment include prescription drugs.
Depending on its severity, treatment can be surgery as well.
To avoid acne, following preventions are important: -Presence of excess oil on the skin surface can cause acne; use of an astringent can help in removing excess oil.
-If your skin is rough and need moisturizer daily, try to use oil free moisturizers.
-Try to use water based cosmetics rather then oil based.
-Honey mask should be used once a week.
Honey being a good disinfectant will kill bacteria in the skin.
-Try to wash your face with sulfur based soap twice a day.
-Do not scrub.
-Always remove your make up before going to bed and do not use any kind of lotion or cream before sleeping.
-You should drink 8 glass of water daily to avoid dehydration of the skin.
