ACNEOPEDIA.COM

What is Acne?

The medical term for acne is Acne Vulgaris. Acne is also know as zit, pimple, and lesions. 50 million Americans suffer from acne. Acne usually appears on the face but can appear on the chest, back, arms and buttocks. These parts of the body have high levels of oil-producing glands. Anyone can get acne; babies, toddlers, teenagers, adults and the elderly. Just because you did not have acne as a teenager, it does not mean it won't appear later on your life.

Acne starts when oil production from the sebaceous glands increase and when skin cells that line hair follicles began to shed improperly. A more concentrated amount of sebaceous glands is found on the face, back, chest and upper arms.

The oily substance the sebaceous glands secrete is called sebum. The bacteria that causes acne, Propionibacterium acnes, thrives in sebum. People who have acne generally have larger sebaceous glands that produce lots of sebum. When white blood cells are activated to clear up the bacteria, it leaves the face red and bumpy. Propionibacterium acnes also thrives when oxygen supply is cut to follicles. This occurs when the skin does not shed properly. Even if Propionibacterium acnes isn't present when the skin is shedding improperly, acne can form because skin builds up on top of skin, which leads to the blockage of the pores.

The first stage of acne is microcomedo, which means a hair follicle is plugged up. What happens to the microcomedo determines what type of acne will appear. Sebum and skin build up under the plugged pore and if it never reaches the surface, it becomes a whitehead. If the microcomedo reaches the surface of the skin and opens up, it becomes a blackhead. It becomes black when exposed to oxygen. Both blackheads and whiteheads don't contain Propionibacterium acnes.

Inflammatory acne is one that contains Propionibacterium acnes. Types of inflammatory acne are papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts.