Acne Development Cycle
The acne development cycle is important for most people to know. It usually starts in plugged
pores on the surface of the skin. Pilosebaceous units are located in the middle skin layer, the dermis, which are composed of sebaceous glands where acne
lesions may arise. Since there are no hair follicles and oil glands on the bottom of the feet or in the palm of the hands, pilosebaceous cannot generate
in these parts. However these units are present all over the body. The face, neck and shoulders are found to have densest presence of pilosebaceous
units making them more prone to irritation, thus the acne affliction. Acne is primarily caused by the obstruction of the passages in the pilosebaceous canals.
These conditions are brought about by varying reasons. The foremost reason in acne development is the excessive production of the sebum, and in effect
may clog the pilosebaceous canals. This is due to the male hormone androgen. For whatever reason, any fluctuation or changes in the balance of this hormone
will always result to acne production. Once stimulated by the overproduction of sebum, the hair follicle wall will start to overproduce. This condition
is called ductal hypercornification. Dead cells combined with excess sebum will clog the pores of the skin and will begin to accumulate. A bacteria present
in the skin which is responsible in starting irritation called propionobacterium acnes, may thrive on the clogged canals and invade them. These may attack
the immune system which in turn may kill the white blood cells. Consequently, the infected area will react to the white blood cells and the present bacteria
which will ultimately trigger the onset of the acne breakout. Before rising to the surface of the skin the acne develops over a period of two or three
weeks . It will develop from simple blemishes on the sebaceous glands through the hair follicle. With this ongoing process two other processes happen in
the hair follicles. The excess sebum mixes with old or dying skin cells and are excreted through the pores, as well, the rejuvenation process starts whereas
the old cells die, giving way to the regeneration of new skin cells.
The shedding of the old cells keep pace with the production of new ones, under normal circumstances, and this condition
varies in different people. For some, the shedding is evenly distributed throughout the skin surface. In others, however, the shedding is uneven, allowing
time for the dead cells to accumulate in the follicles, thus effectively clogging the pores with combined dead cells and bacteria. Acne can either
be inflammatory or non-inflammatory. The most common form is a non-inflammatory type called comedo. A whitehead is produced when the pore of the comedo
is closed when the clog gets trapped inside. These are characterized as white, small bumps. Another non-inflammatory acne is the blackhead. It is
an open pore that allows the clog to pull through the skin. The common notion that blackheads are black because of the accumulation of dirt is not true.
It is primarily because of the trapped pigment melanin. Once a non-inflammatory acne gets irritated it may develop into an inflammatory type. These
appear reddish and swollen. These include papules, nodules, pustules, cysts, scars and maculae, which may typically take some time to heal. Papules
are red pimples or lesions. Pustules are pimples but their pus is filled-up at the center. Nodules are generally deep-seated acne and may take up to two
months before they heal. The cyst is the most serious type of acne. It is rare but these can reach well up to centimeters in diameter. This is considered
as a severe form of acne and needs immediate and serious medical attention - acne development cycle. Contact us Home
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