Acne is a skin disorder that’s prominent during teen-age years, stimulated by overactivity of the sebaceous glands. The face, chest and back tend to be the worst. Acne sometimes also affects babies and adults.

Sebaceous Glands - In mammals, these tiny glands in the DERMIS of the skin give protection by secreting Sebum. Sebum is a naturally oily substance that lubricates and waterproofs the hair and skin.

Skin follicles, also known as pores, can become blocked. When this happens, the Sebum (oil) which normally drains to the skin surface forms a blockage in which bacteria such as Propionibacterium grows. These blockages then form microcomedones – non-inflamed skin blemishes. Later they become Comedones, what you know as a whitehead or a blackhead.

3 Common Types of Acne

Whiteheads and Blackheads

Whiteheads form when trapped sebum and bacteria stay below the skin surface. They can be either very tiny white spots in appearance, or be totally invisible. Whiteheads are probably the most common type of acne.

A blackhead forms when a pore opens to the surface, and the sebum oil, which contains melanin (a skni pigment), oxidizes and turns brown or black in color. Because it is not loose on the surface like dirt, it can’t be simply ‘washed off’. Blackheads tend to last a long time as they form slowly on your skin surface.

Papules

Papules form when the follicular wall breaks open. At this point, white blood cells from your immune system move in to fight infection and the pore becomes red and irritated (inflamed).

The papule becomes a pustule some days later when white blood cells get to the skin’s surface. At this stage is when we usually refer to it as a ‘zit’ or ‘pimple’.

An inflamed papule lesion can sometimes implode or break open, irritating and inflaming surrounding skin tremendously and engulfing other nearby follicles. When this happens, it is called a nodule or cyst. When a follicle breaks open at the bottom, it can totally collapse which results in a large, inflamed bump that’s sore to the touch. Depending on how irritated it becomes, it can grow to become a large pus filled legion.

Milia

Milia are tiny white bumps that come about when skin cells that would normally be shed are trapped in small surface pockets. These are common in newborn babies near their nose and upper cheeks. They also sometimes occur on adult skin. As dead skin cells are shed and the surface breaks up, the bumps tend to go away on their own. This process usually takes a few weeks in newborns, after which they do not return.

For this reason, treatment is usually not indicated in children. In adults, however, milia can be ongoing for life. Adults can have them removed by a physician for cosmetic improvement. Fortunately, this is not a very common type of acne.