Acne Signs and Symptoms

Today acne is not only a skin problem that teenagers can get, but there are many adults who are now getting this skin condition as well. One of the main reasons is that their body is actually producing too much oil (sebum) and this then causes the pores on the skin to become blocked. Should someone suffer from this condition not only does it look unsightly, but also if left untreated can lead to more permanent damage (scarring) to their skin. Below we take a look at the main acne signs and symptoms that are associated with this particular skin condition.

In most cases acne normally appears on a person's face, but it can also appear on their chest, neck, shoulders and back as well. These are all areas of their body where they have glands that can produce oil. When it does appear acne can take various different forms and below we describe what these are.

1. In most cases the first sign of acne is when white head or black heads begin to erupt on the person's skin. Known as Comedones by medical professionals these are produced at the hair follicle openings that will have become blocked because the body is secreting too much oil and this prevents dead skin cells from leaving the body. Also there is an increased risk that these can become infected as bacteria may well be prevented from being eliminated from the body also.

2. The next sign that a person may have acne is that spots have appeared on the skin's surfaces, which are known as Papules. These will appear as small raised bumps on the skin's surface and will be formed around the hair follicles. But unlike the Comedones these can become infected and inflamed and will often be red in color and are tender to touch.

3. Another form of acne that some people may get is pustules that are very similar to Papules but will have a white tip, which contains pus. This pus is made up of bacteria which if allowed to come into contact of other areas of skin can cause further eruptions of acne.

4. Nodules are much larger and solid lumps that are found beneath the surface of the skin and are very painful. These are actually caused because the oil has been able to build up deep inside the hair follicle.

5. The final form of acne that some people may well suffer from and which is the worse of all the symptoms is the Cysts. These just like the Nodules are large and painful but contain large amounts of pus (containing bacteria) as well. If left untreated then these can cause further permanent damage (scarring) to that person's skin.

The biggest problem that one faces with regards to acne is that if left untreated and the spots are allowed to rupture they can lead to further outbreaks of the problem on other areas of their skin. It is therefore important that if you begin to notice that you have any of the acne signs and symptoms mentioned above you seek medical advice as soon as possible. You may find that there could be some other underlying medical problem that has caused you to suffer from this condition.