What is Acne?

Acne is a skin condition that generally occur when the hair follicles on your skin get blocked with excess sebum (oil) or dead skin cells. It is one of the most common skin diseases. Acne is commonly referred to as ‘pimples’ or ‘zits’. Most people believe that acne only affects teenagers. Although it is more common among teenagers, it can affect people of any age. According to the National Institute of Health, about 4 out of every 5 people experience acne breakouts between the age of 11 and 30 years.

Many people experience acne during puberty. It is characterised by pimples on face, pimples on back and pimples on head. It can also be seen on the neck, scalp, chest, shoulders and upper arms. Both men and women can be affected by acne, but it develops differently in both the sexes. Young men tend to get more severe acne outbreaks, whereas women tend to have an intermittent pattern, which is usually related to their menstrual cycles.

Acne or pimples can be seen as tiny, white spots on skin (whiteheads), black spots (blackheads), tiny, painful, red bumps or pus-filled, painful swelling. In a majority of the cases, the condition generally begins around the age of 10 to 13 years. Severe acne can lead to scarring of the skin (acne scars).

CAUSES:

Listed below are some of the most common causes of acne or reasons for pimples.

• Hormonal changes – Hormonal changes that happen in both men and women are among the major reasons for acne on face and other parts of the body. The surplus oil created by these hormones is instrumental in clogging the hair follicles. In women, hormonal changes occur with puberty, menstrual periods, pregnancy, use of birth-control pills and menopause. Each of these is a potential phase for developing acne. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is also a common cause of acne.
• Genetics – Heredity plays a significant role in the persistence and cause of acne. According to a study published by the National Health Services, if both parents had acne, an individual is more likely to get severe acne at an early age.
• Medications – Certain medications can lead to severe outbreaks and is a major cause of pimples on face in some individuals.
• Stress – Changes in the body induced by stress have been extensively studied over many decades. It is not clear if stress is a direct reason for acne on face but it can aggravate existing Acne.
• Bacteria – Propionibacterium acnes is a tiny microbe or bacteria that lives in the oily region of the skin’s pores. The bacteria can aggravate an immune response which causes red swollen bumps and is a major acne cause or cause of pimples on the face.
• Diet – Consumption of certain foods, including carbohydrate-rich foods, such as bread, bagels and chips is an acne or pimple cause.
• Cosmetics – Certain cosmetics that are used over a long period of time can be leading pimples on face reason. Certain face creams, foundation creams, overnight creams and moisturizers are known to cause more harm and is a major reason for pimples or acne

Acne – Types

We commonly use the term ‘breakout’ to describe all types of pimples or acne. But this is not an accurate description of the condition. There are different types of pimples and not all of them spread across the skin. There are 2 major categories of acne viz. non-inflammatory acne and inflammatory acne. Let’s take a look at the different acne types within these 2 categories.

Non – Inflammatory Acne

These types of pimples generally don’t cause any swelling. They are distinguished by open or closed skin pores or hair follicles which are clogged due to excess oil, dead skin accumulation or bacterial build up. There are 2 non-inflammatory acne types.

1.     Blackheads

Blackheads, also known as open comedones, are small bumps that appear on the surface of the skin. The bumps are called blackheads because the surface appears dark or black. Blackheads are a type of acne on face, but they can also develop on other parts of the body such as the neck, back, chest, arms and shoulders. Blackheads form when a clog or a plug develops in the opening of the hair follicles in your skin. When the skin over the bump opens, exposure to the air leads to oxidation, which causes it to look dark and a blackhead forms. Because of their dark colour, blackheads are easy to spot on the skin. They’re slightly raised, although they are not painful.

2.     Whiteheads

Whiteheads, also known as closed comedones, are an acne type that generally appears in the oiliest areas of the body. As a type of acne on face, whiteheads are commonly seen in the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin). They can also be found on your chest, back, shoulders and arms. Whiteheads are covered by the epidermis (outermost layer of the skin) and are found in smaller pores, which make them appear like the colour of your skin. If left untreated, whiteheads can turn into inflamed, painful pimples.

Inflammatory Acne

These types of pimples appear red and swollen. Along with excess sebum and dead skin cells, bacteria can also play a role in clogging skin pores. The bacterial build up can cause an infection deep within the skin’s surface, resulting in painful acne spots which can be difficult to heal. There are 4 different types of pimples in this category.

1. Papules

Papules are an acne type which cause small, tender raised bumps on your skin with no visible fluid. They are often called skin lesions. Papules are formed when the walls surrounding the skin pores break down due to severe inflammation. This leads to hard, clogged pores that are tender to the touch. The skin around these pores usually appears pinkish. Papules are generally less than a centimetre in size.

2. Pustules

Pustules are a type of pimple that can also form when the walls around your pores break down. The difference between papules and pustules is that unlike papules, pustules are filled with pus. In this type of pimples, the bumps often come out from the skin and are usually red in colour. They often have white or yellow heads. It is a common type of pimple on face, but they can also form on the back and chest.

3. Nodules

A nodule is a growth of abnormal tissue below the surface of the skin. Nodules develop when clogged, swollen pores endure further irritation and grow larger. Unlike papules and pustules, nodules are deeper underneath the skin. Therefore, this acne type cannot be treated by home remedies but requires proper medical attention. Medical treatment can help treat this type of acne by reducing the size of the oil glands within the pores.

4. Cysts

Cystic acne is a severe acne type that develops when skin pores are clogged by a combination of sebum, bacteria and dead skin cells. The clogs develop deep within the skin and are further below the surface than nodules. This type of pimple forms large red or white bumps which are often painful to the touch. Cysts are the largest form of acne and their development usually results due to a severe infection. This type of acne is also the most likely to scar.

Acne Treatment

Acne is a skin disorder triggered by multiple factors such as hormones, food, climate, an unhealthy lifestyle and stress. It generally occurs when the hair follicles on your skin get blocked with excess sebum (oil) or dead skin cells. In severe cases, acne can appear frequently and can get worse due to hormonal changes.

Homeopathy offers a safe and natural treatment for acne. The homeopathic medicine for acne eliminates eruptions over a period of time and prevents further outbreaks.