Acne

### What is Acne?

Acne is a bacteria that can contribute to redness, pus, and swelling on the skin. Acne itself is a broad term for pimples, cysts, whiteheads, and blackheads. Acne is caused by overactive sebaceous, which is overactive oil glands, that start producing more sebum, which clogs pores. Sebaceous is the gland that creates oils or waxy matter, called sebum, to lubricate and waterproof the skin of humans. When it creates too much is when acne is caused.

Acne is the inflammation of infected sebaceous glands in the skin. The condition is characterized by red pimples on the face and is very common amongst teenagers.

There are many different types of acne and severity levels.

**Acne Vulgaris-** This is the most common type of acne that includes the formation of multiple and prominent black and white heads. This the of acne is very common amongst young adults and teens. This is not a very severe type of acne and is usually treated by generic over the counter products.

**Comedones-** This type of acne is more widely known as black and white heads. Comedones are formed when a hair follicle is submerged in oil and dead skin cells which clog pores and create these mild white and black heads. **Blackheads** are developed from comedones and do not get their colour from dirt but from the reaction of the comedone coming into contact with air. **Whiteheads** are very closely related with black heads and both are developed from comedones. Whiteheads are also formed by a clog hair follicle with oils and dead skin cells. This type of acne is non severe and is treated with over the counter products. Their is also 'Noncomedogenic' makeup products for people that struggle with this disease.

**Papules -** Papules are comedones that have become inflamed and cause the piles to go pinkish. These pimples are very sensitive and are irritated very easily. When popped these pimples are very painful and can scare. Papule's can be a sign of severe acne due to the inflammation.

**Pustules-** Pustules are a very sensitive inflamed type of acne. Pustules are white heads with a soar red rim around the bump. When picked at these pimples can cause dark spots and scares to the skin. Inside the white middle of the putstules contains white or yellow pus.

**Nodules-** Nodules are painful inflamed pimples that are large and firm. They are planted deep in the skin and are a type of severe acne. Generic over the counter dugs are not strong enough to clear up Nodules. Nodules a have to be cleared up using dermatologist per scripted drugs.

**Cysts-** Cysts are huge pimples that are pus filled and look very bubbled and protrude out of the skin. They are extremely painful and are a form of severe acne. This type of acne can only be treated by dermatologist per scripted drugs.

**Severe Nodulocystic Acne-**This is formed by a mixer of multiple cysts and nodules. This is a severe type of acne and usually turns a deep red or purple colour and leaves scares. Dermatologists may prescribe you a cream to reduce scaring, but a dermatologist may also have to inject corticosteroids into the pimples bring down the inflammation be reducing their size.

**Acne Conglobata-** this is one of the most severe forms of acne that their is and it is a chain of nodules being connected to each other from under the skin and on the surface. This acnes is most common in men because it is usually caused by testosterone and or taking steroids. dermatologists have to assess and treat this acne for a long period of time to get rid of the acne.

**Acne Mechanica-** This is a very different type of acne in the way that is is caused by heat, friction and pressure on the skin. Lots of athletes suffer from this type of acne due to their sports gear such as helmets and baseball caps. It is also known as "sports-induced acne" because of its common appearance on athletes. This can is treated only by keeping the skin as clean as possible as soon and as often as possible.

**Mild Acne –**acne is considered to be mild when a person has twenty whiteheads or
blackheads, fewer than fifteen irritated bumps, and in total fewer than thirty
lesions.

**Moderate Acne-** acne is considered to be moderate when a person has twenty to one hundred
whiteheads or blackheads, fifteen to fifty irritated bumps, and in total thirty
to one hundred and twenty five lesions.

### How does Acne Affect the Integumentary System?

Acne is a skin condition marked by pimples on the face, chest and even the back.  Acne usually begins at puberty and worsens during adolescence.  The increased levels of hormones cause the sebaceous glands to release an excessive amount of sebum into the hair follicles. Since acne affects the skin, it affects the integumentary system.

The integumentary system has all three layers of our skin,the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layers. Our skin is the first body system that is affected by damaged skin.

Acne, affects the
skin, and oil glands. Our skin is composed of two main layers, the epidermis
and dermis. However it is the epidermis that is most affected by acne. The
epidermis is the outer layer of the skin and is made of dead skin cells
and deeper living cells. Acne, can be caused by some of these dead skin cells
clogging pores and appears on this outer layer as different types of inflamed
red bumps. The dermis is found underneath the epidermis and makes up ninety
percent of the skin. Our skin also has a sebaceous oil gland. This is where an
oily substance called sebum lubricates and protects the skin. However, when
this oily substance is overactive it can clog the pores and lead to acne.

### Signs and Symptoms

Acne is the number one skin disease that effects Americans today. Acne is a very common skin disease and their are very easy ways to see the symptoms of Acne. One of the signs that will tell you if acne may begin to form on the skin is if places on the skin especially areas on the face begin to produce more olds then usual. Acne can also come from the way we eat. When we eat fatty food our skin tends to produce more oils then if we eat healthy.

Also when our skin is exposed to oily things suck as food. An example of this could be when you eat a cupcake, when eating a cupcake icing tends to get on the edges of our mouth and on our lower face. A lot of people are not aware of this, but the icing along with lots of other oily fatty foods that come into contact with our skin will create acne because it may clog the our pores are add bad oils into our skin that will allow our skin to react negatively. Here are a few foods that can help cause acne . Therefore our diet can help us see the signs of acne because if we see that our skin is more oily then usual we can see if our diet has anything to do with it and we can even change our diet and try to prevent acne in that form.

Some symptoms of Acne include;

* Crusting of skin bumps.
* Cysts.
* Papules (small red bumps)
* Pustules.
* Redness around the skin eruptions.
* Scarring of the skin.
* Whiteheads.
* Blackheads.
* Whiteheads and blackheads these may develop into an infection of the skin pore known as the pimple. Develops in the face, neck, chest, back, and shoulders, these are the most common spots.

### Diagnosis

To diagnose acne the dermatologist would first examine the skin for pimples or other signs and symptoms. The dermatologist will then note what grade and type of acne is current on the skin. (Grade 1 - 4, 4 being the most severe)

Most people can self-diagnose their mild acne and can treat it with over the counter products. When people self diagnose their acne, they usually will look for a few common symptoms. Some of these will include looking to see if your skin is developing any prominent black or white heads which is not known as a very severe sign of acne but just some normal very common acne, or if the acne looks inflamed which is not a normal symptom or sign of non-severe acne. If your acne looks abnormal such as it becoming inflamed, it may a sign that your acne is getting severe. If the acne looks severe or if you are unsure of what it is, you should go see your dermatologist.

### Treatment

Even though FAJITA acne is the number one skin disease that effects Americans today. it is the most common in young adults and teens. Acne appears usually at the beginning of puberty because of the changing hormones in the body. When non-severe acne is seen in young adults and teens the treatment recommended is just to keep the skin as clean as possible and to keep a healthy diet. Linked below is a video that talks about acne in young teens and how to treat and deal with it.

[1]

 Acne medications work by reducing oil production, speeding up skin cell turnover, fighting bacterial infection or reducing inflammation — which helps prevent scarring. With most prescription acne drugs, you may not see results for four to eight weeks, and your skin may get worse before it gets better. It can take many months or years for your acne to clear up completely.

The drug your doctor recommends depends on the type and severity of your acne. It might be something you apply to your skin (topical medication) or take by mouth (oral medication). Often, drugs are used in combination. Pregnant women will not be able to use oral prescription medications for acne.

The treatment depends on the severity of the acne you have. For mild acne, gently cleaning the infected area with warm water and a mild soap as well as applying benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. For moderate to severe acne, applying benzoyl peroxide, applying prescription antibiotic
creams, taking prescription antibiotics, and the draining of large pimples by a doctor.

References

http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health\_Info/Acne/acne\_ff.asp

https://www.aad.org/public/kids/skin/acne-pimples-zits/different-kinds-of-pimples

1. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/ss/slideshow-acne-dictionary
2. ↑ http://www.activebeat.com/diet-nutrition/13-acne-trigger-foods-avoid-these-foods-to-prevent-breakouts/3/