| What causes acne? There
are many different things that can cause acne. Five
of the main causes are hormones, extra sebum, follicle
fallout, bacteria, and inflammation. Hormones can cause
acne during puberty and continue into adulthood. During
puberty the body starts to produce hormones called androgens.
Androgens cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge (hormonal
acne may result). This process is part of normal development.
For most acne sufferers, the sebaceous glands are overstimulated
by angrogens. Overstimulated sebaceous glands are responsible
for the acne that women experience during their menstral
cycle. Extra sebum contributes to acne as well. After
the sebaceous gland is stimulated by androgens, it produces
extra sebum. The sebum moves up the follicle and mixes
with common skin bacteria combined with dead skin cells
that have been shed from the lining of the follicle.
This increases the chances of clogged pores, which can
result in acne.
Follicle fallout is another possible cause of acne.
When dead cells within the follicle shed more rapidly,
they mix with the extra sebum, stopping the renewal
process, resulting in acne. Bacteria or propronibacterium
plays a role in acne formation. As a follicle is plugged,
bacteria begins to quickly multiply causing a chemical
reaction known as inflammation. Inflammation is what
causes pimples to become red, painful, and swollen.
There are also many different types of acne. Some examples
are acne
rosacea and acne
vulgaris. The basic types of acne are comedones,
papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts
which can occur on the face, neck, back, chest, and
shoulders. Comedones are considered to be the only form
of non-inflammatory acne. A closed comedo is called
a whitehead pimple because they usually appear as small
white bumps. Comedones occur if a plugged follicle remains
below the skin’s surface. Open comedo is called
a blackhead pimple because it has a dark appearance
which is due to a follicle being pushed above the skin’s
surface. Papules, which areconsidered the mildest form
of inflammatory acne, appear as a small solid bumps
that can sometimes be tender. Pustules are small round
lesions with visible pus. They are caused by the chemical
irritation from fatty free acids. Nodules are large,
extremely painful inflamed pus-filled lesions lodged
deep within the skin. Nodules develop when the inside
of a comedo spills into the surrounding skin, causing
the immune system to produce pus. Cysts are nodules
that have become severely inflammed lesions. They can
last for weeks or even months. The lesion usually hardens,
becoming a deep cyst. Nodules and cysts can result in
deep acne
scarring.
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