Squeezing pimples or zits, as they are commonly called, can be painful and cause serious damage. An enduring myth about acne is that squeezing blackheads can clear up the acne faster. This myth is not only false, but following this advice can also cause long-lasting harm to the skin.

Pimples can be classified into two types. There is the non inflammatory type, which is essentially whiteheads and blackheads, also called closed comodones and open comodones respectively. Whiteheads are plugged follicles below the surface of the skin. Blackheads on the other hand are enlarged plugs that look like minute black spots and push through the skin's surface. Then there are the inflammatory types which are further classified into papules, which are pinkish in color and tender to the touch; pustules, which are small and round lesion like pimples with a red base and a yellowish centre; and nodules or cysts, which is the most severe form of acne, and are large and extremely painful and tend to leave scars.

Squeezing blackheads is more likely to harm than heal. As tempting as it can be, squeezing comedones can injure the sebaceous follicle and the tissue around it and force the contents, the bacteria, deeper into the skin tissue and also force its contents to extrude to the skin surface. This can result in inflammation of the skin. Also, scientific evidence suggests that blackheads not be removed by using blackhead extractors that are so commonly available on the Internet or magazine ads. A fully developed blackhead will not become inflamed if left alone.

Moreover, squeezing whiteheads can be potentially even more damaging. Whiteheads, also called sandpaper comedo, are so small that they can hardly be seen, and are more likely to be felt as roughness on the skin. a whitehead is more likely than a blackhead to become inflamed, and further evolve into a pustule or a papule.

When whiteheads naturally evolve into papules or pustules, they should be treated by a dermatologist. Acne can be severely exacerbated if you attempt to squeeze the inflammatory type of lesions. Also whiteheads are so small, that there is hardly any content in it to squeeze out so overall the whole squeezing experience can be rather unsatisfying! A regular acne treatment, based upon your specific type of problem, cause and skin type is by far the best way to keep your acne under control.

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Acne is commonly known as pimples, it is a skin condition that commonly afflicts people during their teenage years. Acne pre-dominantly affects the face but can also show up on the back, neck, shoulders and chest. While most common in teenagers it can appear on adults as well. Neither race or gender is an indicator of acne as it affects male and female and all races equally.

The medical term for it is Acne Vulgaris. It can be diagnosed by the lesions that form on the skin. These lesions can take several different forms: blackheads, whiteheads and cysts. Cysts are formed when the pore becomes completely blocked. Acne is most common during puberty because at this time your body is creating an excess of sebum. Sebum is an oily substance designed to keep the hair and skin soft and lubricated. During puberty the production of sebum is greatly increased which can cause the skin to feel oily and clog pores.

During puberty there is also an increase in the production of follicle cells. Dead follicle cells mixed with sebum can build up and cause white heads. This mix of oil and dead cells is a perfect breeding ground for bacterial which will cause the swelling and redness associated with pimples.

Acne affects about 85% of all people sometime from the age of 12-24. Around 25% of these people will have acne on their back and/or neck as well as the face. The acne will be severe enough to cause about 40% of these people to seek medical treatment.

Acne is most common on the face, especially on the forehead, nose and chin. The back is the next most common area of affliction followed by the neck, chest and shoulders.

Most people will have outgrown their acne problems by the time they reach their twenty's, but some people will continue to suffer from acne even as adults. In some cases people will not have any acne issues until they are adults, this happens more frequently in men than women.

Acne can have severe emotional and psychological repercussions. Since it affects their appearance it also affects their self image and self esteem. Teenagers are especially vulnerable to this attack on their self-confidence and can even trigger withdraw and depression, as well as feelings of anger and frustration.

Fortunately in this day and age there are many treatments that can help with acne. The foremost thing that can be done to help avoid or alleviate acne is to keep the skin as clean and oil free as possible. Washing the most common problem areas several times a day with soap and water, especially after any activity that triggers perspiration, is usually adequate. There are also many medications available by prescription and over the counter to help with acne control.

If the acne is severe enough you can consult a dermatologist, they can prescribe medications for the skin as well as antibiotics to help fight the bacteria. They can also offer advise on life style and diet changes that might help with the condition.

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Acne is a disease in which the hair follicles on your skin become clogged and infected. This results in one of the three types of acne lesions to form.

The production of excess sebum is the culprit. It causes the follicles to become blocked. The medical community is still uncertain as to what triggers this excess production. Sebum is produced by the sebaceous oil gland and everybody needs a small amount to achieve healthy skin. Sebum helps protects the skin from harmful bacteria by washing it away.

Types of Acne Lesions:

The three types of acne lesions are whiteheads & blackheads (also known as closed and open comedones respectively), papules & pustules, and cysts.

Whiteheads as the name suggests, look like white bumps. They form under the skin and never reach the surface. This makes them very hard to eliminate. Blackheads grow upward and break the skins surface. This enlarged follicle and the oxidation of the dead cells, sebum, and bacteria have a black color, hence the name.

Papules form when a whitehead burst and the bacteria spreads to the surrounding tissues under the skin. This causes your body's immune system to increase its fight on the infection making the inflammation worse. They appear as small, firm, red bumps. Pustules form as the body's immune system continues to fight the infection by sending pus to the area. They appear similar to a papules with the addition of a yellowish white head.

Cysts are the third and final type of acne lesion. They form when a pustule worsens and expands further down under the skins surface. They appear red or purple and are very painful. This is the most serious of all types of acne lesions.

Types of Acne:

Acne can not only be classified by the types of acne lesions, but further broken down by acne type; depending on what types of lesions you have. People whose acne consists of whiteheads and blackheads would have what is called comedonal acne. A mix of blackheads, whiteheads, papules and pustules acne lesions is called acne vulgaris and is the most common type of acne. The third type of acne is called cystic acne and it is when someone has all three types of acne lesions with numerous cysts.

Who Can Get Acne:

While most people associate acne with teens, anybody can experience some type of acne at any age. That said certain groups of people are more likely to experience acne. They include teens, people under stress, people who have a family history of the disease, people taking certain drugs and adult women.

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Though all pimples form the same way, they often take on different shapes and characteristics, and react differently on different people. Acne is formed when a hair follicle becomes clogged and what is called a comedo is formed. As the follicle becomes clogged with more oil, the comedo becomes larger, inflaming the skin around the area and forming what we know of as a pimple. There are several types of acne, each requiring different methods of treatment. This article covers some of those types, explaining each and making treatment suggestions.

Non-inflammatory acne often takes the form of a closed comedo, or whitehead. This occurs when the plugged hair follicle stays beneath the surface of the skin, and appears on the skin as a small whiteish bump.

An open comedo, or blackhead, occurs when the plug enlarges and pushes through the surface of the skin. Its dark appearance is not due to dirt, but rather to a build up of the dark pigment of the skin called melanin. Blackheads are also a type of inflammatory acne.

The mildest form of inflammatory acne is a papule, a small, firm, pink bump appearing on the surface of the skin. These bumps can be tender to the touch, and are often considered an intermediary step between non-inflammatory and inflammatory acne.

Pustules are like papules in that they are small, round lesions. Unlike papules, pustules are clearly inflamed and visibly contain pus. They may appear red at the base with a yellowish or whiteish center. Pustules do not generally contain a great deal of bacteria, but are inflamed due to chemical irritation from sebum components.

Nodular or cystic acne is usually very painful. Nodules are inflamed pus-filled lesions lodged deep within the skin. They develop when the contents of a comedo has spilled into the surrounding skin and immune system responds, producing pus. The most severe form of this type of acne may persist for weeks or even months, eventually hardening into a cyst. Both nodules and cysts often leave deep scars.

Acne conglobata, a rare form of inflammatory acne, forms primarily on the back, buttocks, and chest. It is characterized by pustules and nodules, and severe bacterial infection may ensue.

Acne cosmetica is a relatively mild form of acne caused from topical cosmetic products. It is characterized by small pink bumps, and local inflammation on the cheek, chin, and forehead. It may develop over the course of a few weeks or months, but usually does not cause scarring. Since it can persist indefinitely, it is important to find out which topical products are causing the problem and eliminate their use.

It is important to understand what is causing your acne so a suitable treatment can be found. Before you can solve the problem, you must know its origin.

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Truth is acne is actually part of growing. The acne pimples are part of the skin forming like wounds and cysts that occur as part of the changes a kid experiences in the process of puberty. Teenagers would seek counsel from any of their peers or even their parents about these pimples or they may choose to deal with it ignorantly.

The following are the most common myths about acne that teenagers believe and the facts that oppose these ideas:

* Washing the face for many times
Many believe that the more they wash their face the lesser pimples they get. This isn't proper, this is called over washing. In fact, complications may result from over doing the routine since it will irritate the skin due to the use of harsh soaps.

Acne occurs as a result of some foul changes such as dead skin cells inside the skin and doing something harsh on the surface of the skin wouldn't make a difference. It is good to wash the face regularly but it must be done gently using a cleanser or mild soap. The number of washes should not exceed to two times a day.

* Popping the pimple/s
Some people just can't wait for their pimples to vanish so they choose to pop it out. By doing this, the skin becomes vulnerable of infection, scarring, and even more pimples due to the bacteria that gets into the skin while popping the acne pimples out.

* Tanning for acne treatment
Sunlight kills skin bacteria but it doesn't mean that it is an alternative for treating acne pimples. In fact, if skin cells die out and result to dried skin then the skin produces more oil which is one of the factors that cause pimples.

* Diet as one factor for getting acne
Chocolate, coffee, oil, and sugar among many foods people eat do not, in any way, cause acne. No type of diet can cure acne but healthy lifestyle can certainly avoid infections caused by pimples. Some foods were actually proven to exacerbate acne only in cases of allergy but never were it proven to be the main cause.

* Long hair complicates acne
The cause of acne is bacteria and if the person's hair is long and is not cleansed properly then it will definitely complicate acne.

* Girls are more susceptible to having acne than boys
Acne is commonly present among boys due to the male hormone called androgen which is dominant.
The most disturbing myth about acne is its being contagious. People don't have to fear friends who have acne because the bacteria that cause acne is basically contained by the skin and not in the surface.

Acne is disturbing for growing individuals but it would become less disturbing if kids and teenagers know the facts and not the side lies.

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If you've ever suffered from rosacea, then you already know what a debilitating affliction it is. I have had to deal with bad skin ever since I was a teenager, so I am very familiar with the shame and embarrassment that comes from having a face covered in a red rash. One unique characteristic about this skin problem is the fact that sometimes it doesn't clear up completely, and in extreme cases, can even lead to scarring. This happened to me, which meant that I was faced with the possibility of carrying around reminders of my skin troubles for my entire life. Fortunately, however, I discovered several rosacea laser treatments that have worked wonders.

Of course, my dermatologist had been mentioning the possibility of rosacea laser treatment to me for years, but financial difficulties prevented me from following through. Because my insurance company considered rosacea laser treatments elective cosmetic procedures, I would have had to pay for everything out of pocket and the expense was simply too great at the time.

But, as is usually the case, things have changed with time. Now rosacea laser treatment are more common and more affordable than ever before. From what I was able to see, they are more effective as well. So I finally decided to take the plunge and get the rosacea laser treatment that I'd been putting off for so long.

The first thing I had to do was decide which treatment method would be best for me. As you might expect, there are several different kinds of rosacea laser treatment available on the market, so I had to do some research on the subject. I discovered that choosing the right one comes down to a combination of factors, including the severity of the scarring and the amount of money I was willing to spend. In cases where the scarring is more or less superficial, over-the-counter creams and ointments may be able to help. For more serious cases, advanced rosacea laser treatment such as prescription medications and laser therapy.

Another thing I learned is that rosacea laser treatment can help lessen the effects of scarring, but most likely won't remove the scars completely. Even so, I saw dramatic improvements in the before and after photos that my dermatologist showed me during my consultation. But my dermatologist also reminded me that each patient's case is different, and that results will almost certainly vary from person to person. Nevertheless, I had already made up my mind to undergo rosacea scar treatment.

Overall, I have to say this was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I am happy to report that my skin's appearance did improve as a result of the rosacea laser treatment I chose, and now I feel like a whole new person. If your skin is causing you embarrassment and preventing you from enjoying your life, I recommend checking out some rosacea laser treatment today.

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What you are is what you eat! Whether this statement holds good in the case of acne has been a topic which has been under rigorous research. Some people believe that certain foods cause acne while others think vice versa. But, it is very much possible that acne may be the result of food allergies in some cases.

In such cases, the prevalent notion is that skin acts as an elimination organ. When you eat a food that you are allergic to, a toxic reaction occurs which leads the immune system of your body to set up defenses against it. Thereafter, the body starts expelling out the toxins from the food leading to inflammation on the skin in the form of papules and pustules.

According to a research published in December 2002 issues of Archives of Dermatology, certain high-glycemic foods cause acne. These food stuffs lead to high production of insulin in the body, which raises the male hormones. As an effect of rising hormones, there is excess production of sebum in the body which ultimately leads to clogging of pores thereby causing acne. Foods such as grains, milk, processed food, bread, french fries and potato chips are the main culprits in this case.

The experts suggest a switch over to a lower-glycemic diet. A lower-glycemic diet would contain the following:

1. Cereals that contain bran, barley and oats
2. A lot of fresh vegetables and fruits
3. Lots of water, herbal teas and vegetable juices

And a lower-glycemic diet would not contain the following:

1. Walnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, and filberts
2. Large amount of dairy products and milk
3. Sodas and other aerated drinks
4. Potatoes

Vitamin B5 is considered to be a very important part of a nutrient rich diet. It is commonly found in foods such as pork, beef, chicken, eggs, saltwater fish, potatoes, wheat and fresh vegetables. The variety of foods is large, but the problem is that 50 % of the vitamin is lost during milling of grains and sadly, the average American diet lacks in fresh vegetables. Diet may not be the particular cause of acne and rosacea but can obviously help in the prevention and elimination of the same. Hot and damp foods such as sugary cakes, cookies, sweets, alcohol, chocolate, fried and greasy food, dairy products, peanuts, coconut products, fats and oils, generally trigger acne.

The link may not be direct but it is always advisable to stop the intake of these believed-to-be acne causing foods. A healthy and well-balanced diet keeps your body healthy and the health inside radiates outside on your skin.

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Just as a war has a post-war effect (on the completion of the war), acne healing is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of a new series of efforts to control the scars, and if possible, to obliterate it totally. It is the reformation and rehabilitation process for that particular patch of the skin.

Many people recoup the original health of the skin, without any permanent effects. But many have to suffer disfiguring scars. Topical skin care products and medications can work to some extent, but more efforts and ways and means will be required to find a lasting solution. A combination of surgical procedure and skin resurfacing have to play their part here. There are no other shortcuts or options to it howsoever.

The hyper pigmented mark on the skin, when the acne lesion is healed, should not be mistaken as a scar. At this stage, natural healing process has taken over, a post-inflammatory change. The result may not be immediate, nature is always slow, it goes placidly. The time frame for the scar-vanishing trick, may be anything between 6 to 12 months. If, even then the skin reverts to its original color, take it that you are going to be gifted with a permanent scar, and think of redrawing the plans for its permanent removal, in consultation with a dermatologist.

There are certain practices and medicines that can come in to play to expedite the healing process of the scar:

1. Wearing a good sunscreen is of utmost importance. Exposure to the sun causes damage to the skin and lengthens the process of healing.

2. Skin's remodeling process is amenable to certain tried and tested medicines. They heal up the post-inflammatory changes. One tested medicine is Tretinoin (Retin A-Renova, Avita).

3. Do not pick scabs under any circumstances. By doing so, you are rendering disservice to your own skin. You are interfering with the healing process of nature. By doing so, you are prolonging your own recovery.

Be realistic about the results. Do not try to achieve the impossible. Such efforts may cause more damage to the skin. No single treatment is right for everyone and your dermatologist knows what is best for you. Remember, treatment is addressed on a case-to-case basis.

No doubt, it is double punishment. Firstly to undergo the pains of recovery from acne and then to be the owner of a scar. Scars are there to remind you constantly and provide questioning room for others. In the ultimate analysis, let the advice and wish of the dermatologist prevail.

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Zits or pimples may appear harmless but it can ruin a person's social life and can even destroy his self confidence. For one, it is disfiguring and can mar even a beautiful face. A person who has a severe case of acne usually has low self regard and prefers to live away from people.

Pimple or acne usually appears during puberty, a point in a person's life when he still has not yet fully developed his confidence. Having acne at that young age limits a person's social life because he may have bad feelings about showing his face to others. Ultimately, it can destroy a person's future.

It is unthinkable how many people allow their lives to be inhibited by acne when there are numerous ways of treating such skin disorder. A person, or even his parents, should immediately seek treatment for this skin disorder as soon as possible to avoid further damage top the skin.

Acne is caused by the secretion of oil that is thickened and leads to the clogging of pores. When the pores get clogged, it can lead to inflammation and infection and then to scarring.

While acne is commonly identified with those facial zits, other body parts like the back, neck and chest can also experience acne breakouts. However, most people do not really fuss about these zits since these are located in hidden body parts. Facial acne is however another story since it is the first thing that a person sees.

To avoid acne, you have to keep your skin clean and free of oil all the time. Too much oil build up in the skin can cause acne. Some people are more prone to getting acne so they have to be more careful about keeping their skins free from oil build up.

People who have acne can resort to topical treatments at first but if it does not work out, then it is best to seek treatment and proper prescriptions from licensed dermatologists.

When stronger acne treatments have been prescribed but they do not work, your dermatologist may recommend accutane. This is a prescribed oral medicine which can be effective but its effects can only be seen after a few months of taking it.

Whatever you do with your acne, never prick them because it can only add to the bacteria and can result to scarring. Acne treatments that work for other people may not work on you but keep on seeing your dermatologist until you come up with an effective treatment.

Do not let acne limit your social life. Get help and get some acne treatment before your acne becomes worse and even more difficult to handle.

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