
So you think you just get breakouts but don't have acne? Think again. Whether it's occasional breakouts associated with your monthly menstrual cycles, blackheads on your nose and chin, a full Class IV case of teenage for acne, or embarrassing pimples on your back, chest, or even more unspeakable places, it's all acne in one form or another. Because a comprehensive plan of attack for acne and treatment involves interrupting the processes that create the visible acne breakouts.
Acne vulgaris, the technical medical term, includes everything from a few blackheads, whiteheads, and inflamed pimples to deeper, more painful cysts and nodules. Acne scarring is an inflammatory condition of the skin that occurs inside a pore--the passageway from the bottom of the hair follicle to the skin's surface.
The bump that appears on your face is actually the final step in a silent process that begins deep inside a pore one to two weeks before the pimple or acne scar is ever visible. Here's a simplified look at how acne forms:
Acne Step 1: Clogged Pores
During the normal process of skin renewal, skin cells that line pores are continuously sloughed, making room for fresh, new cells. But sloughing doesn't always happen as it should.
Sometimes dead skin cells combine with skin's natural oil and instead of shedding, they clump together inside of a pore. A hard, firm plug called a comedo is then formed inside the pore(think of it as a cork in a bottle), and the stage is set for acne or acne scars to begin.
Acne Step 2: Trapping Of Oil (Sebum)
Your hormones stimulate oil production in the sebaceous glands, which are attached to the pores. The plug (comedo) impedes the oil from traveling up through the pore to the surface of the skin, as it is meant to do.
Instead, this oil is trapped and provides the ideal environment for bacteria to flourish. Keep in mind that this can happen even if you have dry skin.
Acne Step 3: Bacterial Attack
Once your pores are clogged, an airtight environment is created and anaerobic (oxygen-hating) bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes (P.acnes for short) "feeds and breeds" on the abundant oil, releasing inflammatory toxins.
Acne Step 4: Inflammation
The body's response to these toxins is a swarming army of red and white blood cells to contain the infection. The end result is intense swelling, inflammation, and pain in the form of a pimple, pustule, or, in more severe cases, a cyst or nodule.
Additionally, some people continue to suffer the aftermath of acne in the form of a pink/brown discoloration (post-inflammatory hyper pigmentation) at the site of the healed blemish that lasts long after the acne scars have cleared. The darker your skin color, the more likely you are to experience these marks. Start your treatment for acne immediately.
Although many people confuse these with actual acne scars, they are not permanent. However, they can be quite persistent and without acne treatment may take months or even years to fade. Like the treatment acne itself, these marks can be healed, but preventing acne breakouts in the first place is a double win and is always your best bet.