Acne can occur anywhere on the body. However, acne most often appears in areas where there is a high concentration of sebaceous glands:
* face
* chest
* upper back
* shoulders
* neck
The following are the most common symptoms of acne. However, each person may experience symptoms differently:
* blackheads
* whiteheads
* pus-filled lesions that may be painful
* nodules (solid, raised bumps)
The symptoms of acne may resemble other dermatologic conditions. Consult a physician for diagnosis.
Monday, June 22, 2009
How does acne develop?
The sebaceous glands produce oil (also called sebum) which normally travels via hair follicles to the skin surface. However, dried oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria can cover the hair follicles, blocking the oil coming from the sebaceous glands. When follicles become plugged, skin bacteria (called Propionibacterium acnes, or P. acnes) begin to grow inside the follicles, causing inflammation. Acne progresses in the following manner:
1. Incomplete blockage of the hair follicle results in blackheads (a semisolid, black plug in a pore).
2. Complete blockage of the hair follicle results in whiteheads (a semisolid, white plug in a pore).
3. Infection and irritation cause abscesses (areas of pus) to form.
Eventually, the plugged follicle bursts, spilling oil, skin cells, and the bacteria onto the skin surface. In turn, the skin becomes irritated and pimples or lesions begin to develop. The basic acne lesion is called a comedo or comedone.
Acne can be superficial (pimples without abscesses) or deep (when the inflamed pimples push down into the skin, causing pus-filled cysts that rupture and result in larger abscesses).
1. Incomplete blockage of the hair follicle results in blackheads (a semisolid, black plug in a pore).
2. Complete blockage of the hair follicle results in whiteheads (a semisolid, white plug in a pore).
3. Infection and irritation cause abscesses (areas of pus) to form.
Eventually, the plugged follicle bursts, spilling oil, skin cells, and the bacteria onto the skin surface. In turn, the skin becomes irritated and pimples or lesions begin to develop. The basic acne lesion is called a comedo or comedone.
Acne can be superficial (pimples without abscesses) or deep (when the inflamed pimples push down into the skin, causing pus-filled cysts that rupture and result in larger abscesses).
What is acne?
Acne is a chronic disorder of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Acne causes clogged pores which leads to pimple outbreaks, cysts, infected abscesses (areas of pus), and, sometimes, scarring.
Acne is very common -- nearly 17 million people in the US are affected by this condition. Acne most often begins in puberty. During puberty, the male sex hormones, called androgens, increase in both boys and girls, causing the sebaceous glands to become more active and, thereby, increasing the production of oil.
Acne is very common -- nearly 17 million people in the US are affected by this condition. Acne most often begins in puberty. During puberty, the male sex hormones, called androgens, increase in both boys and girls, causing the sebaceous glands to become more active and, thereby, increasing the production of oil.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Skin : The Body's Barrier to Infection and Disease
The first identify the skin as a protective coverring for the internal organs was the famous pathologist Rudolph Virchow. It was decades later, that sceintists and physicians began to understand that the skin is a regulated wnvironment of cellular and molecular interactions which react to environmental stimuli.
Keratinocytes
The skin is a mosaic of different cell types. Histologically, the skin is formed by squamous epithelial cells, termed keratinocytes, ass they produce keratin protein. In addition, these cells play a role in protection, as they can produce cytokines, soluble molecules, which can recruit other cells, specifically white blood cells, in times of infection and stress. Melanocytes produce the pigment of our skin, and their proportion varies throughout the races.
Melanocytes
Melanocytes specifically produce melanin, a brown pigment, which they disperse to the lower cells of the skin, basal cells, and with maaturation, these cells move to the surface with the melanin granules in their cytoplasm. Melanin is the molecule which protects us against ultraviolet rays that are found within sunlight.
Langerhans Cells
Langerhans cells are epidermal dendritic cells, which take up foreign particles and present these to our immune system while they traffic to nearby lymph nodes.
Merkel Cells
There is also an extensive network of neural cells and axons within the skin. Merkel cells are believed to have endocrineas well as mechanoreceptor roles within the skin.
Adnexal Structures
Sweat glands play a vital role in body temperature homeostasis. Hair follicles for hair, as well as protecting the skins cell factories, by protecting the stem cells of the skin (the cells with regenerating capacity).
Keratinocytes
The skin is a mosaic of different cell types. Histologically, the skin is formed by squamous epithelial cells, termed keratinocytes, ass they produce keratin protein. In addition, these cells play a role in protection, as they can produce cytokines, soluble molecules, which can recruit other cells, specifically white blood cells, in times of infection and stress. Melanocytes produce the pigment of our skin, and their proportion varies throughout the races.
Melanocytes
Melanocytes specifically produce melanin, a brown pigment, which they disperse to the lower cells of the skin, basal cells, and with maaturation, these cells move to the surface with the melanin granules in their cytoplasm. Melanin is the molecule which protects us against ultraviolet rays that are found within sunlight.
Langerhans Cells
Langerhans cells are epidermal dendritic cells, which take up foreign particles and present these to our immune system while they traffic to nearby lymph nodes.
Merkel Cells
There is also an extensive network of neural cells and axons within the skin. Merkel cells are believed to have endocrineas well as mechanoreceptor roles within the skin.
Adnexal Structures
Sweat glands play a vital role in body temperature homeostasis. Hair follicles for hair, as well as protecting the skins cell factories, by protecting the stem cells of the skin (the cells with regenerating capacity).
Acne Information
Whether you're a teenager or an adult, acne can really but a damper on your social life. Read about what causes your acne here, and most importantly, learn about the different ways you can treat it.
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