Friday

The 6 Most Common Pimple Types

By Lana Robinson

Nearly 17 million people in the United States have acne, which makes it one of the most common skin diseases. Acne is most common in teenagers and young adults, and does not discriminate among races. Nearly 85 percent of people between the ages of 12 and 24 get acne at one time or another, some more than others. For most people, acne goes away by age 30. But some people in their forties and fifties still get acne.

We don't know the exact cause of how a pimple develops. What we do know is that the pore collapses on itself and blocks oil (sebum) from escaping. This causes the pore to become clogged and infected. The process by which a pimple develops is highly intricate, and we don't fully understand why one sebaceous gland has a clogging problem while the other does not.

While we don't understand exactly what causes acne, we do know that hormones, diet, vitamin deficiency, stress, evolutionary biology (just to name a few) play a role in the formation of acne. Most pimples are found on the face, neck, back, chest and shoulders. While acne is not a serious health threat, it can cause physical and emotional scars.

Pimples grow when body hair, sebum (oil), and skin cells clump together into a plug. Bacteria in the plug cause swelling. When the plug starts to break down, a pimple appears.

Because many factors cause pimples, time is better spent on finding and testing an effective treatment.

There are many types of pimples. The most common types are:

1. Whiteheads. Pimples that stay under the skin's surface.

2. Blackheads. These pimples rise to the skin's surface and look black. The black color is not from dirt.

3. Papules. Tender, small pink bumps that appear on the surface of the skin.

4. Pustules. Pimples that have pus at the top and are red at the bottom.

5. Nodules. These are large, painful, solid pimples that are deep in the skin.

6. Cysts. Pus-filled, deep and painful pimples that can cause scars.

About the Author:

No comments: