What is Acne?

What is Acne?

Acne Is A Common Skin Disorder It Effects 50 Million Americans.

What Is Acne? Let’s Break It Down.

Acne is most commonly known to be an inherited dead skin cell problem.

It’s a common challenge many are facing today. Approximately 85 percent of Americans will experience acne some time in their life. While commonly thought to be an adolescent problem, acne can appear at any age, most often on the face, back, and chest.

Acne Causes

The cause of acne is overall complex. It can range from the overproduction of oil, the blockage of follicles that release the oil, the growth of bacteria in those follicles or even buildup of dead skin. Usually when someone is prone to acne, their pores clog with dead skin cells much faster than normal. Instead of shedding the normal one layer of skin per day, the acne-prone pores shed up to five layers of dead skin cells per day. The body just can’t keep up with keeping the pore clear.

Types Of Acne

There are 2 types of acne, inflamed and non-inflamed. Non-inflamed is more mild. Non-inflamed acne has open and closed comedones (whiteheads and blackheads). Inflamed acne on the other hand includes pimples (infammatory papules) and pustules (a different form of a pimple that only contains white blood cells) and is the most advanced.

Inflamed acne also may include nodules (deeper inflamed lesions that extend below the surface) or cysts. They can be dime size or larger and often require medical attention for acne treatment. In addition to being painful, acne can be emotionally and psychologically challenging for many people that do not know how to properly treat their skin.

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