The Facts On Acne Pimples

Acne pimples are a common disorder developed in teenagers and also adult acne which are due to the inflammation of skin as the skin is too acidic as superficial skin acne eruption caused by the blockage of skin pores where bacteria resides. Usually acne appears on the face but acne can also extend to neck, chest and back also where the acne blocked pores are harder to wash. Not all acne is the same. Simplistically, acne can be divided into acne red bumps and acne blackheads/whiteheads. This division is important because each type is treated differently. Blackheads and acne whiteheads, known as comedones, can be more numerous on the face and shoulders than acne red bumps filled with pus. Good consistent skin acne free hygiene can help improve acne prevention. Therefore, knowing more about the cause of acne comedones and how to treat acne inflammation is a step towards the proper adult acne treatment.

All adult acne is a disorder of the pilosebaceous unit, which is made up of a hair follicle, sebaceous gland, and a hair. These acne prone units are found everywhere on the body except the palms, soles, top of the feet, and the lower lip. The number of acne prone units are greatest on the face, upper neck, and chest. Sebaceous glands produce a substance called sebum, which is responsible for keeping the skin and hair moisturized. During adolescence sebum production increases due to hormones and improper acne acidic/toxin diests fo the modern world. After about age 20, sebum production begins to decrease as the hormone system is mature. However, adult acne continues as the body and brain is stressed.

The oily substance produced by the sebaceous gland combines with adult acne cells being sloughed off within the hair follicle and "fills up" the hair follicle. When the follicle is "full", the sebum spreads over the skin surface giving the skin an oily acne prone appearance. When this process works correctly, the skin is moisturized and remains acne free & healthy.

Problems arise when the sebum is trapped in the hair acne prone hair follicle. Some hair follicles become obstructed due to excessive sebum. The sebum is produced but gets trapped on the way out and is a cause of acne. A certain bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes multiplies in this trapped sebum and causes infection. This leads to inflammatory acult acne, or acne red bumps and acne pustules. In some follicles the bacteria does not cause an acne infection, but rather changes the lining of the hair follicle and forms plugs called acne comedones.