Aspiring Spirit

Acne appears when sebaceous glands inside the hair follicles (pores) of the skin become plugged, because emission occurs faster than the oil and skin cells can leave the follicle. The plug causes the follicle to bulge (causing whiteheads), and the top of the plug may darken (causing blackheads). If the plug causes the wall of the follicle to break, the sebum, devitalized skin cells, and microorganisms found commonly on the surface of the skin can enter the skin and create small infected areas known as pustules (also called pimples or “zits”).

The actual pimple is usually the result of bacteria entering an open skin pore causing the body to react with millions of leukocytes to eliminate the invaders. As the leukocytes fight and die they make an inflamed area that turns red (pimple) which over time evolves into an even greater mass of devitalized cells that can create a pus pocket (white head).

Also, open pores can also be blocked with dried oils, external elements or just facial dirt that form what is commonly called a black head. Salt from sweat is another cause of many facial break outs when it dries and blocks pores.

Cysts appear when the infection reaches the deeper layers of the skin. A sebaceous cyst appears when the sebaceous gland continues producing oil. Instead of rupturing the follicle wall, the follicle continues to grow and create a soft, pliable lump (called a cyst) under the skin. The cyst is commonly not painful or discolored unless it becomes infected.

Acne Scar Causes

Acne scars occur when spots become inflamed or don’t heal properly. While scarring for some sufferers seems to depend on inherited factors or skin color, precautions can be taken to prevent scars and treatments are available to significantly improve scarred skin’s appearance.

In the simple terms, scars are the visible reminders of injury and tissue repair. In the case of acne, the injury is caused by the body’s inflammatory reaction to sebum, bacteria and devitalized cells in the plugged sebaceous follicle. Two kinds of true scars exist:

(1) Depressed areas like in ice-pick scars, and

(2) Raised thickened tissue like in keloids.

When a lesion occurs the body sends in the ‘troops’ to heal the damage. However, when their job is done they may leave behind a mess in the form of fibrous scar tissue, or eroded tissue. White blood cells and inflammatory molecules may stay at the site of an active acne lesion for days or even weeks. For those who are prone to scarring the outcome may be an acne scar.

Acne scars can now be quickly eliminated thanks to a biological skin care product created to treat scarring and blemishes without causing undesired side effects.

- Sara Kitch