Acne is characterised by a combination of spots, blackheads, whiteheads and inflamed pores.
The first noticeable symptoms of acne are comedones, otherwise known as blackheads and whiteheads.
Blackheads: These little dark dots on your skin are caused when dead skin cells, bacteria and grease build up in your pores. This creates a wide opening where the dark skin pigment melanin collects.
Whiteheads: These are cream in colour and have a tiny, almost closed opening. This means that any material inside the pore can't escape.
As the condition worsens you may start to experience papules (inflamed red lumps), pustules (pus spots), nodules or inflamed cysts (large tender, deeper lumps in the skin).
Acne is most likely to occur in areas where the sebaceous glands are largest and where they are located around hair follicles. This means on the face, back and front of the chest.
Acne should never be treated lightly as the psychological effects can be quite distressing, leading to poor self-confidence and low self-esteem. But now there's a lot you can do to ease the symptoms and make acne easier to live with.
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