Acne is not just one particular type of skin blemish; it is a skin disease.
It is an inflammation of the sebaceous glands and results in comedones, nodules, papules and cysts all divided into superficial acne and deep acne.
The acne most are familiar with, the common acne, or acne vulgaris is superficial.
Cystic acne is the deep kind of acne that can cause embarrassment and scarring.
Acne is generally divided into two types: Inflammatory acne and Non-inflammatory acne.
While the pathogenesis of acne is not totally understood, it is reported that hormonal changes are largely the cause.
This is in part based on the observation that castrated males do not seem to get acne.
Propionibacterium acnes also have roles in creating this inflammatory acne.
This lipase of this bacterium breaks down the triglycerides in the sebaceous oils from glands walls of the follicle and this leads to inflammation.
Superficial Acne This is the acne vulgaris and can often be effectively managed with an acne treatment.
Among the manifestations of this acne are the simple blackheads and the whiteheads.
The only distinction between the two comedones is that the blackhead is an open comedone and exposed to oxygen.
The chemical reaction between the keratinous material in the blackhead and the oxygen produces a color change on the tip of the comedone, turning it brown or black.
The whitehead is covered by a microscopically thin layer of epithelium and thus is protected from interacting with oxygen.
Papules, nodules and pustules are still within the category of superficial acne.
Superficial cysts are also characteristic of simple acne.
This type of acne has the best chance of healing without causing any scar formation.
If an inflamed blackhead or a pustule is being manipulated, where many other bacteria will be introduced, then a progression to a deep type of acne may follow.
Again, an acne treatment will help reduce breakouts of superficial types.
Deep Acne This is often the result of traumatic attempts to express blackheads or whiteheads.
In this attempt, other bacteria are introduced.
The body's function of trying to neutralize the invading bacteria, will contribute to the formation of highly inflamed nodules and deep pus pockets, also known as cysts.
If the cysts rupture to the outside, its contents will be expelled.
If they rupture toward the inside, an abscess will form.
With deep acne, scarring is very common.
Most acne lesions will unfortunately be on the face or neck.
Sometimes, the upper back and chest is also involved with acne lesions.
The Treatment For Acne Superficial acne will be treated differently from deep acne.
With some superficial acne, no medical treatment is usually needed.
You can try facial masks or little strips applied to your skin.
When you pull either mask or strips off, the comedones will be pulled out of the skin.
Most will naturally resolve with proper hygiene.
If you have the superficial kind of pustule acne, applying topical erythromycin or clindamycin is often highly beneficial.
Over the counter drugs can usually be used with really good results.
For deep acne, medical treatment by a physician is necessary.
Topical treatment for pus-filled cysts or abscesses is futile.
It needs systemic therapy.
Medications like erythromycin, tetracycline, minocycline and doxycycline all have a place in the treatment of severe acne.
Some of these drugs have worse side effects than others and your doctor must decide what is best for you.
In refractory cases, the synthetic vitamin A drug isotretinoin is prescribed, but certain precautions have to be taken with this drug before it is prescribed.