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Acne Vulgaris is the most frequent skin condition in the United States. It is characterized by pimples that appear on the face, back and chest. Every year, about 80% of adolescents have some form of acne and about 5% of adults experience acne.
Acne is made up of four types of pimples or blemishes:
The uncommon and severest form of acne is Acne Conglobata, which consists of variable coin sized superficial and deep cysts that can tunnel to create medium to large interconnecting abscesses. These cysts can be derived from pre-existing acne eruptions of recent or past origin. They contain an odiferous seropurulent substance which can reaccumulate after their rupture and drainage. Their presence results in irregular and disfiguring scars which may become either atrophic or keloidal.
Causes
Within the normal skin, the oil glands are known as sebaceous glands, which produce an oily substance called sebum. The sebaceous glands are attached to each hair follicle wherein the sebum moves upward from the bottom to the top to then spill onto the surface of the skin, carrying any skin cells which may have shed. Acne results when the hair follicle becomes occluded with both the sebum and cellular debris preventing their release onto the skin’s surface. When the poral opening is closed, the pimple is called a whitehead. If the poral opening is open, a blackhead is formed having a gray-black center due to the oxidization of its contents nearest the skin's surface. When either a whitehead or blackhead becomes inflamed, it can progress into an erythematous (red) papule or an infected (pustular) papule. The pustule can proceed into a cyst, or into the more severe form of acne conglobata as described above.
It is important for patients not to pick, scratch, or squeeze acne lesions for fear of their becoming more inflamed and infected leading to permanent scarring.
Treatment
Treating acne is a relatively slow process; there is no overnight remedy. Some treatments include:
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