Acne vulgaris is another name for common acne. This is the type of acne that mainly affects adolescents but may persist and become more severe as one reaches adulthood.
Mild to Moderate acne vulgaris is characterized by the following lesions:
Whiteheads
Whiteheads result when a pore is completely blocked, trapping sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing a white appearance on the surface. Whiteheads have a shorter life span than blackheads.
Blackheads
Blackheads result when a pore is only partially blocked, allowing some of the trapped sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells to slowly drain to the surface. The dark color associated with its appearance is not caused by dirt. Rather, it is a reaction of the skin's own pigment, melanin, reacting with the oxygen in the air. As a whitehead has a short life cycle, a blackhead is a firmer structure, and can often take a long time to clear.
Papules
Papules are inflamed, red, tender bumps with no head.
Pustules
A pustule is similar to a whitehead, but is inflamed, and appears as a red circle with a white or yellow center. (This is what is commonly called a “zit.”)
Severe acne vulgaris can be distinguished by the presence of nodules and cysts:
Nodules
As opposed to the lesions mentioned above, nodular acne consists of acne spots which are much larger, can be quite painful and can sometimes last for months. Nodules are large, hard bumps under the skin's surface. Scarring is common. Absolutely do not attempt to squeeze such a lesion. You may cause severe trauma to the skin and the lesion may last for months longer than it normally would have left untouched.
Cysts
An acne cyst is often similar in appearance to a nodule, but it is pus-filled, and has been described as having a diameter of 2 inches or more across and is often very painful. Again, scarring is common with cystic acne. Squeezing an acne cyst may cause a deeper infection and more painful inflammation which will last much longer than if you had left it alone.
Adult acne is a form of acne vulgaris that can affect adults over 30 years of age. Those who had no problems with acne as a teenager have found that they are having breakouts. But because acne is normally associated with the hormonal fluctuations that occur during puberty, its appearance in an adult should be investigated to determine the underlying causes--especially if it appears for the first time in adulthood.
The following are at least three reasons why acne appears after 30 years of age:
With some reasons established, we can now mention some of the possible causes of adult acne:
Rosacea
Though often misdiagnosed as acne, rosacea is, in fact, not acne. Rosacea affects thousands of people in the U.S. alone, mostly those over the age of 30. It generally appears as a red rash confined to the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. This redness is often accompanied by bumps, pimples, and skin blemishes--the reason it is so commonly mistaken for acne.
Further, this redness is also linked to the fact that blood vessels may become more visible on the skin. Rosacea has been shown to be more prevalent in women than in men, but often if found in men it tends to be more severe. If you are seeking treatment and you think it may actually be rosacea, you need to be aware that the treatments differ quite a bit from those used in the care of acne vulgaris.
This form of acne is caused by external mechanical forces like constant pressure, constant and repeated friction, covered skin, and heat. For those involved in sports, in the military or in high-activity jobs, this is nothing new as the condition is common with many athletes and in professions where factors like tight-fitting, even restrictive clothing is worn for extended periods of time. These sort of jobs may include certain kinds of factory work where an employee may be busy with repetitive tasks that may irritate the skin and lead to break outs.
For soldiers who must wear uniforms much of the time and may be carrying backpacks with straps that bite into the skin and cause friction with each step or straps on weapons that can also rub again the body this can become a real issue.
Operating in the extremes of temperatures that these soldiers often do can also often complicate existent acne by causing inflammation and further breakouts.
Further examples of possible causes may include:
Often women who regularly wear make up or cosmetics find that they are getting breakouts on the forehead or cheeks. It may be what is called acne cosmetica. This form of acne is generally caused by the type of cosmetics that a person is using.
Pomade Acne
When hairstyles change, it is not uncommon for teenagers and young adults to adopt new styles. But, sometimes a new style requires the use of a thick, oily hair cosmetic called pomade. Pomade is generally used when a hairstyle requires that curly hair be straightened or hair be molded into various shapes.
One of the undesired effects of pomade use may be pomade acne. Pomade acne occurs on the scalp, forehead, and temples where pomade comes into contact with the skin.
Most, if not all, pomades fall into the category of comedogenic – or pore clogging - cosmetics. The heavy oils used in pomades can clog skin, setting the stage for the formation of comedones. In addition, some of the other chemicals in pomades may irritate the skin, contributing to inflammation.
The term excoriated means to scratch or abrade the skin. Now when we bring this term into the context of acne we have what is called excoriated acne. This type of acne is defined by the behavior of the person suffering from it. When such a person obsessively picks and scrapes at every pimple and blemish on their skin, they are said to have excoriated acne. Because of the excessive nature of the attention given to the sufferer’s skin, deep irritation can result as well as scarring.
Though it may appear to others as a mild form of acne, without pustules or nodules, to the person dealing with it, this condition may be intolerable. This almost psychological urge to get rid of one’s skin lesions or blemish can become very damaging. As such, it is recommended that a dermatologist be sought for treatment.
This form of acne occurs in newborns and is concentrated on the nose and cheeks. It is caused by the hormonal changes that have occurred will the fetus was developing in the womb. Typically, the acne clears up in matter of weeks without treatment.
However, infantile acne has a serious aspect that must be considered. If simple cleansing with mild soap and water will not clear the acne up then a mild topical agent (such as a prescription form of benzoyl peroxide for infants) helps both the current situation and prevents scarring. If this does not help, then a dermatologist may need to be consulted.
Things to note: