Pimples are tiny skin lesions or inflammations of the skin. They usually develop after blackheads or whiteheads become clogged and infected. They may appear as deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) on the face, neck, chest, back and sometimes shoulders.
Before we begin to learn about how to prevent acne and pimples it is important to understand how pimples are formed. There are oil glands on our chest, face and back numbering in the thousands. In fact, between the nose and cheek areas there are as many as two thousand oil glands every square inch. The function of these oil glands is to lubricate the skin by producing oil, or sebum. Oil that is produced in the glands flows through follicles or tiny ducts to the surface of the skin.
In acne sufferers, the uneven shedding of dead skin cells constantly clog the oil glands. Bacteria then invade the area, feeding on the sebum resulting in a blemish (or internal lump). Our bodies respond by fighting the bacteria with white blood cells. As these cells die off they form puss which builds up, swelling the area, resulting in a pimple. At this stage the pimple can develop further into nodules and cysts that go deep into the skin. These can be quite painful and even lead to scars.
No comments:
Post a Comment