Acne Continuation Pt 3 - Types

Hey there! I know it has been quite some time since I have made a post. A lot of crazy things have happened to me in the last month and I have been adjusting to it. Either way, I wouldn't just abandon my blog.

I want to take the time to reiterate for those of you who might have missed it before. I am giving you the skin care knowledge before allowing you to see the sections on make-up and so forth first because it is important. I believe that great make-up begins with great skin. Using make-up to cover up your acne just makes it stand out more. I want you all to have great skin. I want you all to really get the best out of your make-up!

Even for you males out there that might happen upon this blog, sure not everything here will be geared towards you but there is none-the-less something here for you. Everyone can benefit from great skin and that is why my skin care section must be first and foremost. Having said that, let's continue onward!

Types of Acne

It is important to know that Acne isn't as generalized as you might think. There are many types of acne, many causes for each type and like wise specific treatments for each. There are two categories of Acneic Lessions:

1. Non-inflammatory - this governs Microcomedo, open comedo and closed comedo's
2. Inflammatory Lessions - Papule, pustule, nodule and cyst.

Tip: Did you know that there are 6 other types of acne? They are:

1. Acne Mechanica or frictional acne - Acne triggered by heat, friction or rubbing of the skin, constant pressure

2. Acne Medicamentosa - Drug(medication) induced acne

3. Chloracne - Acne created by exposure to certain chemicals and or compounds

4. (Acne) Rosacea - Sometimes called 'adult acne' and is characterized by a reddened face that never fades, thick bumpy skin with dilated capillaries, itchy or stinging bumps (acne), and flares up randomly with various triggers such as: spicy foods, the consumption of alcohol, etc.

5. Acne Cosmetica - Cosmetics that contain certain oils, chemicals, ingredients that will clog your pores and breed acne.

6. Perioral Dermatitis - A skin disorder that causes red bumps around the mouth and smile folds around your mouth and cheeks. The exact cause is unknown but many say that creams with steroids in them may be a cause.

Fact: Your sebaceous glands secret sebum (oil) to help push dead skin cells that line the walls of the hair follicle, to the surface of the skin through your pores.

Let's take a look at the two types of acne a little more in depth. What does it mean when I say "Non-inflammatory"? or "Microcomedo"? What does it mean to have either of these two categories?

Non- inflammatory= Not angered, not red, sore, burning, agitated or swollen.

Micocomedo = A tiny plug of oil and dead cells inside the hair follicle. They are microscopic in size, not inflamed and can become a problem if it reaches the next stage.

Open Comedo = Blackhead. A mixture of oil and dead cells line the hair follicle that forms a plug. As mention previously the tip goes black because it's been oxidized by the air. These can be squeezed out because it has an opening or pore. It's important to note that blackheads will continue to form even after extractions. Why? Because your going to continue to produce sebum and shed dead skin cells. This process can be helped to lesson the amount of blackheads of course, but the point is, is that your not going to get no blackheads unless you have dry skin.

Closed comedo = whitehead. It is a plug of oil that has no opening on the surface of the skin. The dead skin cells have grown over the pore. These need to be dealt with delicately actually. In a sense it is good to extract these because they can turn into papules easily. 

Inflammatory= To be angered, agitated, red, swollen, burning,

1. Papule = Red, firm, raised lesion up to 1 cm in size. Often sore to the touch. These ruptured inside the skin! The area becomes inflamed. Your capillaries dilate and bring in your white blood cells to attack all the debris so...NEVER squeeze and pick at these. Leave them alone. Spot treat with a little salicylic acid and allow your natural defenses to take care of the rest.

2. Pustule = Pus is formed from dead white blood cells, bacteria, sebum and dead tissue. You may squeeze if very gently providing it is no longer inflamed.

3. Nodule = An elevated lesion located DEEP in the dermis (skin). It's a giant papule. It feels firm when you touch it and your skin can be moved over it. It's cause by a large break in the follicle wall where oil, bacteria and dead cells leak into the dermis. Never squeeze it.

4. Cyst = next stage of a nodule. Infections been present for a while, nodule becomes soft. Pus has formed inside and is slightly liquid. Doctors often need to drain these or inject with an anti-inflammatory agent such as cortisone.

Next time I will discuss Acne Prevention. Remember, if you have any questions don't hesitate to leave a comment. Or if you just want to talk, share, leave a comment! Show some love and subscribe.

Until next time...Enjoy life, Love, liberty, and always yourself.