Acne is caused by a blockage of sebum oil in your follicle. This happens for reasons that are still not understood. There are different types of acne that all of us have experience. They are as follows: whitehead, blackhead, pustule, papule, nodule, cyst, and milia.
All kinds of acne begin as micromodome. A micromodome is a blockage under the skin that is not inflamed.
A white head begins as a micromodome. The white head is excess sebum that is caught below the skin surface. It may show on the skin surface as a white bump, or be completely invisible to the naked eye.
A blackhead begins as a micromodome also. A blackhead happens when the sebum reaches and break through the surface of the skin. The oxygen in the air turns the top layer the black color, hence the name. The oxygen reacts with the melanin that is in the sebum.
A papule happens when there is so much blockage that the follicle wall ruptures. After the wall ruptures white blood cells come rushing in to fix it and the area become inflamed.
A pustule forms after the papule. This is when the papule begins showing on the surface of the skin. So at this point you would have a broken follicle wall and inflammation, as well as the sebum seeping to the surface of the skin.
A nodule is when the complete follicle falls apart and becomes extremely inflamed and hurts to touch.
A cyst is a pus filled lesion that can hurt, or not hurt.
Milia occur when skin that is normally sloughed off get caught in little pockets on the skin.
Myths?
Washing your face more often helps stop acne.
-This is not true as acne is not caused by dirt; it is caused by a sebum back up in your follicle. Contrary to popular belief frequent washing may be the cause of your acne. The easiest way to avoid this is to wash your face only two times a day with your bare hands, as a washcloth could also cause irritation of the skin follicles.
Stress causes acne.
-Stress affects the hormones that may cause acne, but does not directly cause acne to happen. In order for the hormones form stress to affect acne you need to have an existing acne problem.
Masturbation or sex causes acne.
-Completely not true. This began in the 17th Century, young adults were told this so they would not have premarital sex.
The sun will help get rid of acne.
-This may help your skin for a short amount of time, but is not a long term solution.
How to properly pop a pimple:
Take the below steps to properly pop your pimple and reduce scarring.
Disinfect a sewing needle with rubbing alcohol.
Gently press the needle into the pimples surface, to break it.
Gently, but firmly squeeze from the bottom to release the fluid. DO NOT try to force the pimple as this will cause problems.
If you keep trying to force the pimple to pop you will probably end up scarring your face.
