Acne can range from mild to moderate to severely disfiguring and manifests itself in different forms in different people.

Acne Vulgaris is the most common form of acne and it includes several types of pimples. These include blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts. Nodules and cysts are considered as a severe form of acne vulgaris, while the rest are all considered as mild or moderate forms of acne.

1 Whiteheads come about when the skin pore becomes completely blocked, thereby trapping sebum, bacteria and dead skin cells, and causes a whitish appearance on the surface of the skin. Whiteheads are normally resolved faster than blackheads.

2 Blackheads result when a pore is only partially blocked, in which case, the trapped sebum, bacteria and dead skin cells are allowed to drain out to the surface of the skin. The black color, commonly assumed to be dirt, is in fact a reaction of the skin’s pigment, melanin, to the oxygen in the air. A black head can take a long time to clear.

3 Papules are small red and tender lesions. If squeezed, they can leave behind a permanent scar.

4 Pustules are inflamed whiteheads and have a red base with a yellowish centre. The yellowish centre contains bacteria, sebum and dead skin cells. Again, they are prone to leave scars if scratched or squeezed.

5 Nodules are much more painful than all the types mentioned above and they can last for months. They look like hard, large bumps under the skin’s surface. Do not attempt to squeeze a nodule. You can cause severe trauma to the skin and it will then take even longer to heal.

6 Cysts look like nodules but a filled with pus, and usually have a diameter of 5mm or more across. They can be quite painful and scarring is common in this type of acne.
Acne Rosacea

This type of acne looks very similar to acne vulgaris and the two are quite often confused for each other. Rosacea affects millions of people, who are usually above the age of 30. Its manifests itself as a red rash, often accompanied by bumps, pimples and blemishes, on the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. It is more commonly found in women, but when it occurs in men it is usually more severe. You should visit a dermatologist to determine if you have acne vulgaris or rosacea.

Other severe forms of acne, which are rare, include

1 Acne Conglobata, a severe form of acne vulgaris, is extremely disfiguring and causes irreversible damage to the skin.

2 Acne Fulminas, which is a sudden onset of acne conglobata. In addition to disfiguring and damaging nodules and cysts, this form is accompanied by fever and joint pains.

3 Gram-negative Follicultis is a bacterial infection which can result as a complication of an extended antibiotic treatment for acne vulgaris. It is characterized by pustules and cysts.

4 Pyoderma Faciale is severe facial acne which affects only women, usually aged between 20 to 40 years. It is characterized by painful and large nodules, pustules and sores. It develops suddenly and usually lasts only a year or but in that short time, is enough to brutally damage the skin.

Jack Smith writes about various topics. This article is free to re-print as long as nothing is changed, all links remained intact, the bio remains in full and the rel=”nofollow” tag is not added to any of the links. Thank-you - Please visit http://www.acne-spot.info

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99% of the population has acne of one form or another at some point in their life. For some it is minor and for others it can be a horrible disease both physically and emotionally. Some of the worst manifestations can lead to depression, withdrawal and even suicide in some documented cases.

This is obviously not something to take lightly. It is common thought that most young children (infants and toddlers) get facial rashes due to sensitive skin that usually clear up on their own. The more severe and scarring forms of acne result after puberty and, in many cases, throughout adulthood. Many medical journals are now touting that a large composite of these acne cases are actually rosacea, a parasitic infection of the sebaceous glands (oil glands) and hair follicles. Doctors and researchers are now saying that as much as 50% of acne cases could actually be misdiagnosed cases of rosacea.

In rosacea, the parasites infest and clog the follicles and sebaceous glands and this brings bacterial infection and red, inflamed bumps similar to acne. Treatment for rosacea, which may look similar to minor acne, is actually the same as for more severe acne. Chemical peels must be used to remove several of the upper skin layers and uncover the infected pores and follicles. Deeper chemical peels like trichloroacetic (TCA) acid work best as they will also kill the bacteria that form and change the pH of the skin and make it less conducive to bacterial infections. Most importantly TCA peels have been clinically proven to kill the parasite that causes rosacea.

Most treatments for acne like benzoyl peroxide have been found to be ineffective on rosacea as they will not penetrate into the clogged pores and cysts. Instead, they will exacerbate the condition by making it more inflamed and itchy further bothering the patient. Antibacterial treatments like tetracycline and doxycycline will work, but are only temporary as once ended, the condition will return.

With rosacea it is a good idea to stay out of the sun as it has been proven to aggravate the condition. Stress and diet can also contribute to a rosacea outbreak by making your skin more prone to infection. One unique tribute of rosacea is that it can be spread from person to person, whereas this is not true with acne as it is more genetic and hormonal. Practicing good hygiene is the best defense against contracting rosacea in the first place.

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peels have also been found to be very effective on acne, sun spots, removal of freckles, certain types of skin cancer, eczema, and many other malodies too numerous to mention. TCA peels used to only be available from dermatologists and plastic surgeons on an outpatient basis. They can now be purchased cheaply and safely through the internet. For more information on TCA peels for in home applications please see the link below.

David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in biochemical research and clynical analysis. For more information on TCA peels for in home use and great anti-aging products and ideas please visit http://www.bestskinpeel.com

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Acne is a common problem that many teenagers face. It can be very embarrassing and soul destroying for many teenagers who are at a very delicate and self-concious age in their lives. With the many pressures that they face, teenage acne can be an added problem that interferes with a young person’s self esteem and confidence. For some of us, acne was not much of a concern throughout our youth and we do not understand the trials and tribulations that young sufferers go through. My sister did suffer and had to use acne treatment as a teenager.

I was one of the lucky, clear-skinned teenage girls in my school. I never had to use any acne medication or topical acne treatment. I did get the occasional pimple and strangely, I always had the pimples right before a special event. The blemish usually appeared right on the center of my nose or right in the middle of my forehead. The blemish would appear, right on cue, on the morning of a special event. For those suffering from teenage acne and acne breakouts then it was even worse as the anxiety before an important event was bound to herald a breakout right at the worst time.

My acne cursed sister had a breakout right before the Junior Miss Pageant and I think that this may have contributed to her not making the final ten when I did. It may have been the fact that she was five-two, a little plump and a little clumsy, but she likes to think that the acne was the cause of the Junior Miss elimination. Looking back now, it is fair to assume, that the breakout occurred because she was under stress. The blemish disappeared shortly after the pageant was over and finished for that year.

My sister didn’t appear to be the least bit nervous before her prom, but suddenly, there it was. She had an acne breakout on the eve of the prom. Covering it up with makeup only made it worse. She tried not to let the breakout spoil her night, but of course it did, although she had a good sense of humor about it. She did put her gown back on a week later to get pictures taken and I dressed up to have pictures taken with her. It’s only us who know that the date on the photographs is not the real prom date! Acne or no acne, she still had a great time. I realise how lucky I was not suffering from teenage acne.

Today, my sister finds herself in a new situation when it comes to unsightly acne blemishes. She, and I, are approaching middle age and use moisturizer. We are a long way past the teenage acne years. What she is finding is that her skin tends to be a bit oily and she is having mild acne breakouts after moisturizing her face. She is very irritated that she needs to combat wrinkles and acne at the same time. It is a pity that anti wrinkles cream and acne products aren’t combined. One of the things to look forward to as you get older is the absence of acne. I guess she still have a lot of growing up to do.

Bruce Walls is a writer and webmaster at http://www.a1-acne.com

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