06/12/2019
what is Acne
Acne is the name for pimples or comedones * : blackheads, whiteheads, and sometimes deeper lumps that occur on the skin, especially on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders, and upper arms and legs. Almost all teenagers have at least a little acne, and some adults have the problem as well. Although acne is not a serious health threat, it can affect how people look, which in turn can affect how they feel about themselves. When the acne is severe, it can leave permanent scars on the skin.
Acne occurs when hair follicles (FOL-li-culs) become plugged. A follicle is a tiny shaft in the skin through which a hair grows. The follicles are connected to sebaceous (se-BAY-shus) glands, which are small structures in the skin that make an oily substance called sebum (SEE-bum). This oil helps keep the skin and hair healthy. To reach the surface of the skin, the oil drains from the glands into the follicles, then leaves the follicles through tiny openings in the top. As it leaves the follicles, the oil carries away dead skin cells shed by the follicle linings.
What Kinds of Acne Are There
Sometimes the cells inside the follicles shed too fast and stick together, forming a white, cheesy plug at the surface of the skin. If the opening to the surface stays partly open, the top of the plug may darken, causing a blackhead. If the opening to the surface closes, the follicle may fill up and its wall may start to bulge, causing a whitehead. The mixture of oil and cells inside the follicle also aids the growth of bacteria. If the follicle wall bursts, the oil, cells, and bacteria spill into the skin. The result is redness, swelling, and pus, in other words, a pimple. Ordinary acne is made up of blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples.

At times, large, pus-filled lumps called cysts (pronounced SISTS) form deeper in the skin. This is a more severe form of acne. The lumps may be painful, and if they are not treated by a doctor, they may lead to permanent scars.
What is Treatment of Acne
Acne treatments work by stopping new pimples from forming. They do this by cutting back on the amount of oil the sebaceous glands make, the number of bacteria that are present in the skin, or the rate at which dead skin cells are shed. It is important to give an acne treatment enough time to do its job. It may take weeks for the skin to clear up, even if a treatment is working.
Over-the-counter medications
Milder cases of acne are often helped by lotions, creams, pads, and gels sold without a prescription. Many will dry out the skin if used too frequently, however, and it is important to follow label instructions carefully.
Prescription medications
A doctor may prescribe stronger medicines than those sold over the counter. When put on the skin in creams or lotions, such medicines may cause dryness and peeling. The doctor can offer advice on how to deal with these side effects.
Other treatments
The doctor may open pimples or remove blackheads and whiteheads in the office. A skilled doctor is the best one to do this. People who try to do it themselves may wind up making the acne worse and increasing the risk of scarring.
What is Else Causes of Acne
Certain oily kinds of makeup and face cream can clog the openings of the skin and cause mild acne. That may mean that people who try to cover their pimples with makeup actually make the problem worse by causing new pimples. Oil-free products are labeled "non-comedogenic" (non-kom-ee-do-JEN-ik), meaning they should not cause blackheads or whiteheads, or "non-acnegenic" (non-ak-nee-JEN-ik), meaning they should not cause acne.
Several other things can cause acne or make it worse. These include certain medicines. People who work in fast food restaurants or garages may find that their acne is made worse by the constant contact with grease, motor oil, or chemical irritants. Many girls also find that their pimples get worse around the time of their periods.
