Acne, What Is It And How Can We Stop It?

What Acne Is Our body is covered with pores (also known as follicles). Sometimes these pores get blocked. The reasons for this are more or less unknown. Body oils that find their way out through the pores cannot get out. Bacteria begin to grow. A microcomedone is the beginning of acne. This then grows into a whitehead or blackhead. These whiteheads or blackheads are called comedones. A whitehead is formed when the trapped sebum (oil) cannot reach the surface at all. On the other hand, in the case of a blackhead the oil partially reaches the surface. The skin pigment (melanin) reacts with the oxygen from the air and forms a blackhead. The blackhead or whitehead heals if the oil is let out to the surface. If the follicle wall ruptures then inflammatory acne is caused. This is caused by picking or touching. This is why skin that is prone to acne should be untouched. When the follicle wall is broken white blood cells rush in and a formation called a papule follows. When white blood cells make their way to the surface of the skin, several days later, a pustule is formed. This is commonly known as a zit or a pimple and is often the cause of adolescent embarrassment. A nodule is formed when a follicle breaks along the bottom and there is total collapse. Cysts are pus filled cells formed by a severe inflammatory reaction.

Causes Of Acne

What can causes acne?

The sebaceous glands produce sebum in the skin. An overactivity of these glands causes acne. These glands start secreting excess sebum due to the hormone called testosterone, which is found naturally both in men and women. The dead cells that line the openings of the hair follicles are not shed properly and block the follicles and hence the flow of sebum. This causes oil to build up in the hair follicles. Whiteheads and blackheads are formed as a result of this. In most people acne is limited to this stage of growth. Sometimes however, the sebum (oil) build up in hair follicles creates an environment for Propionibacterium Acne to grow. These bacteria normally reside harmlessly on the skin. When there is a build up of oil, they feed on this oil in the follicles causing a response from the body's immune system. This results in the sore red spots we know as pimples. Why acne forms in some hair follicles and not in others is unknown. Acne is the result of hormones, diet, evolutionary biology, stress and vitamin deficiency.