What Is Acne?

What is acne? Certainly, most of us know what it is, simply
because we have had to experience it at one time or another
in our lives. But, in case a definition is needed, here is a short
one. Acne is a dermatological term that includes clogged
pores, pimples and lumps or cysts that occur on the face,
neck, chest, back, shoulders, and upper arms. Acne occurs
most commonly in teenagers, but is not limited to any age
group, afflicting even adults in their forties. This diseas
many varieties, and although none are life threatening, the
more severe cases of acne can be disfiguring, leaving
permanent scars on effected areas. 

The physical changes in body tissue - or lesions - which acne
causes are described in five ways: comedos, papule, pustule,
nodule and cyst. Further, these terms denote range or
severity with comedo (also known as blackheads and
whiteheads) at one end and nodules or cysts at the other. 

As stated above, acne is most common among teenagers,
affecting teens between the ages 12 and 17. Usually, these
mild cases are cleared up with over-the-counter treatments
and the acne goes away by the early twenties. It also should
be noted that although acne affects both girls and boys
equally, there are some distinctions. Young men are more
likely to have severe, long-term acne while women can have
reoccurring or intermittent acne well into adulthood due to
hormonal changes and cosmetics.

Now that we have summarized just what acne is, we can
move on to the subject of this book. A guide to acne: what
types are there, how to treat it, and current myths circulating
about it. The hope is that the reader will come away having
gained a clearer understanding of acne in its various forms,
and how it can be combated against and to reduce its impact
upon the lives of those suffering from it. This is by no means
an exhaustive guide on the subject nor is it a clinical journal,
but is at the very least, an introduction and a source upon
which to do further study into the causes and cures of acne in
all its forms.

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