Acne in plain English - What is Acne?

A step-by-step guide to acne, its causes and solutions

These Acne in Plain English pages will first show you how acne forms, and then dispel acne myths, and finally provide advice on how to get rid of any type or severity of acne you may be experiencing.

By the time you're done with this section you should have a good idea of the science behind acne and feel confident in how you would like to proceed.

Acne is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by superficial skin eruptions that are caused by sudden and strong outflow of sebum which injures the cells lining the sebum canals within the skin follicles, or by plugging of the skin pores.

A normal skin follicle looks like this

When the sebum glands are overactive or when they first become active during puberty and produce large quantities of oil (sebum) the sudden outflow of large quantities of such sebum either ends up injuring the cells that line the sebum canal or the sebum blocks the opening of the follicles (often called pores).

If the cells lining the sebum canals get injured the body triggers an inflammatory reaction to get rid of the problem and if the inflammatory reaction is immoderate as it usually is you get pus, redness , pain and destruction by your own system not only of the sebum but also some of the surrounding cells. If sebum (oil) which normally drains to the surface gets blocked it becomes a rich feeding environment for the growth of bacteria.

Both whiteheads and blackheads start out as a microcomedone. The picture below is a microcomedone:

There are two types of acne:

Non-inflammatory acne - blocked pores:

Microcomedones become non-inflamed skin blemishes called comedones - either a whitehead or a blackhead:

WhiteHead	BlackHead
When the trapped sebum and bacteria stay below the skin surface, a whitehead is formed. Whiteheads may show up as tiny white spots, or they may be so small that they are invisible to the naked eye.	A blackhead occurs when the trapped sebum and bacteria partially open to the surface and turn black due to melanin, the skin's pigment. It is not dirt and can not be washed away. Blackheads can last for a long time because the contents very slowly drain to the surface.

A blackhead or whitehead can release its contents to the surface and heal. Or, the cells lining the follicle wall can become damaged and inflammatory acne can ensue (see below). This lesions can be caused by random occurence or by picking or touching the skin. This is why it is important to leave acne prone skin relatively untouched.

Papules	Pustules
A papule occurs when there is a lesion in the follicular wall. White blood cells rush in and the pore becomes inflamed.	A pustule forms several days later when white blood cells make their way to the surface of the skin. This is what people usually refer to as a "zit" or a "pimple".

An inflamed lesion can sometimes completely collapse or explode, severely inflaming the surrounding skin, and sometimes destroying neighboring follicles. These lesions are called nodules or cysts:

Nodule	Cyst
When a follicle breaks along the bottom, total collapse can occur, causing a large, inflamed bump that can be sore to the touch.	Sometimes a severe inflammatory reaction can result in very large pus filled lesions or cyst. This type of acne should be treated by a dermatologyst.

Diagrams courtesy of: National Institute of Health

BIOSKINCARE

Deeply moisturizing natural skin care cream that triggers the regeneration of damaged cells and replenishes the lipid barrier of the skin. It works because it not only controls bacteria by boosting the production of the skin's own antimicrobials, it also unclogs pores through the action of enzymes that digest the keratin and sebum that plugs hair follicles.

In fact it releases the amino-acid components of damaged skin proteins for their use in regenerating healthy cells which prevents and heals acne scarring while removing scars from accidental injuries and post surgery; stretch marks; hypertrophic and keloid scars; keratois pilaris, actinic keratosis, dermatitis, psoriasis scales and all types of skin blemishes. Also good for the relief of side effects of isotretinoin acne drugs and radiotherapy.

It eliminates redness quickly and can be used in conjunction with medicines like isotretinoin (Accutanee & other brands prescribed for very severe acne) to avoid their dreaded side effects on the skin. It strengthen the skin while taking the medicines, for it does not interact with them.

$69.98 - 50 gr

 

BIOACNECARE

This product' formula addresses back acne and is also excellent for facial acne.

 

$59.00 - 50 ml

The product acts through the synergy of three ingredients:

The natural organic serum that supports the immune system of the skin by providing protein enzymes that dissolve blocked pores; skin regenerating activators that heal skin lesions; antimicrobials that keep bacteria under control; antioxidants that scavenge free radicals; cell communicating molecules that discern damaged cells from healthy cells and support the immune system in its fight against foreign matters and uncontrolled bacteria; and boosters of production of water holding molecules within the skin matrix that deeply moisturize the dermis & epidermis;

Willow bark extract, a natural form of salicylic acid that has none of the irritating side effects of the synthetic forms. Salicylic acid is comedolytic and opens up the infected pores to allow oxygen in and also the healing serum and the licorice extract that is in the formulation

Japanese Licorice extract, which is anti-inflammatory, anti-irritant, anti-microbial, antioxidant & reduces sebum production.

BIOSKINFORTE

The Strongest Natural Acne Treatment

$69.98 - 50 gr

A sweet yet most powerful solution for stubborn acne breakouts and acne cysts that have not been amenable to other treatments.

This acne cream yields what no other acne product does for stubborn acne because of the synergistic benefits of the combination of our biological serum with several botanical ingredients that are anti-irritant, anti-microbial, anti inflammatory, sebum output moderators, liquifiers of hardened sebum & keratolitic.

The product has a strong medicinal like smell from the some of the botanical ingredients in it, a small price for the benefit of getting rid of stubborn acne breakouts.

Try BIOCUTIS SKINCARE PRODUCTS now, and get your skin healthy and beautiful again, quickly!

What Parents of Teenage Boys Say Or Recommend?

This has worked the best for my son's acne & scarring. I like it as a night cream also. This is our 2nd order. Thanks, Juliann Cloyd, SD, USA

My son (a teenager) believes the product has done wonders in keeping his face clear of problems. Craig Boren. GA, USA

I bought a jar of this for my son a few months ago, and I am pleased with the results. For a year we have tried antibiotics and many topical drugs with no lasting results. I did not want him to take Accutane. Thank you for producing this. It has been the only thing I have ordered by internet which has worked. Judy Flaherty. PA, USA

My son's acne has improved so well that his scars are fading only after using BIOSKINCARE for 3months. Valia Palaia. NJ, USA.

I have been using BIOSKINCARE on my son for 5 weeks and my husband and I have noticed a dramatic difference in the texture and appearance of his skin. My son is two and a half years old and suffered a third degree burn to his right shoulder after pulling a kettle of boiling over himself when he was 20 months old! Thank you for your miraculous cream and for putting a smile back on our faces again! You have created wonders for us so far, hence I feel devoted to you! With many thanks and best wishes! Maeve Quinn. United Kingdom.

My son has been using the cream for approx 1 year to heal acne scars and has real confidence in the product. Many thanks. James Reynolds. Kent, UK.

Hello! My son found your site and was looking for a product for his own skin needs when he shared with me a number of reasons why I should try your products. So he ordered me a jar of it and after using it, I have my daughter's friends asking me just when I am going to begin aging. They look intently on my skin whenever they are around me. It made me feel strange at first but when I realized why they are doing it, it is really a compliment. And my grandchildren tell everyone that I am the grandmother without the wrinkles. Thank you for such a wonderful product! Catherine Walker. Washington, USA.

My son and I have been using the cream for a couple of months and it has really cleared up our faces. He is 19 and I am 39. My son has had bad breakouts for a couple of years and this is the best his face has looked in a long time. It also helps to eat good and drink a lot of water which was mentioned on your site. Thanks. Laurel Wilson. Utah, USA

What Parents of Teenage Daughters Say Or Recommend?

My daughter bought BIOSKINCARE to try on her acne scars, she let me use it to see if I like it and we were amazed of the results, our skin looks more radiant than ever and the acne scars seem to be less noticeable, we will tell all our friends about it. Thanks! Elizabeth Aragon. New York.

Myself and my daughter have been using your cream for about a month now and already my skin feels smoother and my daughters acne is gone, although she still has the acne scars they are definitely fading. My daughter also uses it for a five inch scar on her leg which is also showing noticable improvement. Thank you for a wonderful product! Diane Sandison. Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom.

Works well for my daughter's acne. Wanda Reid. AZ, USA.

Originally purchased your product for my daughter for adult acne (small breakouts) and, after reading some of your testimonials, started using it myself for its benefit to older skin, primarily those small wrinkles and dullness. Carol Jolly. NJ, USA

This is my third purchase. I've purchased you product for my teenage daughters acne. She had been seeing a dermatalogist for over five years and they could not get the acne to clear. She has been on your product for about four months and we have seen incredible results. Joy Naylor. Ohio, USA.

During the summer, my daughter and I made our first purchase of BIOSKINCARE. We both were thrilled with the results. This product helped my daughter with her occasional breakouts and also made my skin much smoother and refined. Thank you! Nina Clopper. MD, USA.

I like the feel of my skin. I am now ordering to help with my daughter's acne. Lisa Norris. TX, USA

I am completely amazed at the effectiveness of this product. I cannot believe how much clearer (of acne) my back is after about 5 weeks of application. One jar covered a lot. I think with one more jar my back may be completely, or nearly, clear. I am filled with joy over how great I look and feel. I am ordering additional jars for my sister and daughter. Bless all of you for the work you do is so helpful to people. Iris D. NC. USA.

We purchased the cream to reduce two keloid scars located on the upper chest on 26 june 2004. It has reduced swelling and soften tissue. My daughter will continue use for another two months to evaluate results Thanks. Claude E. GA, USA

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