Learn About Acne

You're now a teenager. Finally get to drive. If you're not a teenager, I'm sure you can relate. But, along with that comes the period in your life where you have to deal with acne. So, what is it? When your pores in your skin get clogged and bacteria forms inside them, it results in acne. You may be already noticing the red bumps and the white pimples of your skin.

Our skin is a vital part of our body, because it keeps out bacteria and other germs that could make us sick. But sometimes bacteria grow within the pores of our skin, and mixes with the sebum which comes from the sebaceous glands. We need this oil so our skin will remain soft and not dry.

While oil or sebum oozes out the side and is distributed around the area, our hair continues to grow through the surface. Our skin cells will grow and die and are rubbed off through washing. But when this process is interrupted when the pores close trapping the bacteria inside, the result is acne.

Acne can sometimes appear as a white pimple which contains dead skin cells, white blood cells, and bacteria. A postule can develop when the follicle wall in the cell breaks, and the white blood cells rush in as a healing process. A pimple also contains, 'pus', and forms a postule.

Acne can also develop as black heads, they're referred to as black because of the color. Their black color is also associated with dirt. In contrast, the chemical reaction between the sebum and dead skin cells and the oxygen in the air is what turns them black.

All these types are referred to by the medical term 'comedones.' You can determine what type of comedone it is by observing if it is open or closed.

As acne progresses it can develop into a papule, nodule, or cyst. If your acne formed when the walls of the hair follicle burst close to the surface, then you have a papule. They're small and don't contain pus. If there is a break at the base of the follicle, and there is a hardened lump under the skin, that would be a nodule. If you have a larger, red bump, you have a cyst. Although, a cyst is soft, it can be very painful.

You're probably not looking for a biology lesson, but are looking around on the net for 'What is Acne.'The time that you spent here will be worth it, because now you know a little more about acne. That gives you an advantage, if your knowledgeable, then you won't spend your money on things products or procedures that don't work.