Keeping It Smooth – It Is More Than Knowing The T Zone

There are many types of acne available in the Dermatology field today.  But, what is acne?  What are the causes of acne?  Can we avoid it?

Acne or acne vulgaris is the most basic term used for an eruptive skin disease that causes pimples which does not heal easily and often overlaps from one pimple to another.  Directly used from the Greek word acme which means "point or edge".  There are two major categories of acne in the medical field, the moderate acne vulgaris and the severe acne vulgaris.  Moderate or mild acne vulgaris can be treated easily with simple routinary facial hygiene, medications and dermatological procedures. 
Pustule is usually swollen; it has a red circle having a white or yellow painful core. You may simply treat the infection if you have the right medication after removing the dirt sitting at the bottom of the inflamed area. 
Blackhead it is an accumulated dirt, facial oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells in the skin follicle. 
Papule it is a swollen bump on the skin surface which does not have any core or white spot, the redness indicates bacteria infection.  It is a small but painful spot which can be treated with prepared remedies.
Whiteheads are dead skin cells seated deep on the skin.  A common astringent or facial remedy does not usually work and this requires simple extraction.
Severe or complicated acne vulgaris are usually worsened by bacterial infection if untreated after its first manifestation.  It is categorized by cysts or nodules.  Cysts appears to be a large lump on the skin surface, the core is hidden below the skin surface making it harder to treat.  The infection is seated deep under the skin pore enclosing the infection which makes it painful, while nodules are very similar to cysts only the infected area below the skin surface is dry.  Nodules if untreated can impact the same area several times giving greater damage on the skin each time.  Other forms of sever acne vulgaris which require professional dermatological treatments and procedures are:
Oil Acne
Lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei
Acne necrotica
Tar acne
Acne aestivalis
Acne with facial edema
Acne keloidalis nuchae
Acne cosmetica
Occupational acne
Acne keloidalis nuchae
Acne medicamentosa
Acne miliaris necrotica
Acne conglobata
Tropical acne
Halogen acne
Chloracne
Acne is basically an infection manifested on the skin caused by the individual's diet, hormones, or genes.  But there are times wherein acne eruptions are triggered by psychological and physical stress.

Treatments are available for easy management of acne which ranges from oral, medicated soaps and ointments having kera-tolytic or anti-seborrheic base, acids such as azelaic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, and salicylic acid.  Antibiotics are also prescribed depending on the severity of the bacterial infestation.  Nevertheless, retinoids and benzoyl peroxide is the most basic yet effective treatment available in the market.

Dermatologists know what treatment is needed depending on the skin damage and infection.  Thanks to the modern technology, treatment does not have to be invasive anymore.  Painless acne treatments like phototherapy through blue and red light, photodynamic, and laser treatment.  But, for some cases, surgery may still be required in order to reduce and control the acne infection.

For more related information see: Medicamentos