Skin Care Images
Examining pictures of acne can help you decide just how serious your condition is. There is no substitute of course for getting a professional opinion from a dermatologist or medical practitioner, especially if your condition is serious or if the acne is infected
The internet is a great research tool for learning about acne in the early stages so you can make a judgment on just how far your acne has developed and how you should deal with it.
Sebum is a natural substance which normally moisturizes the skin. However, when it combines with dead cells which accumulate in a hair follice, it can cause a blockage which in turn leads to a breakout of acne. The condition is found most often on the chest, upper neck, and of course, worst of all for most people, on the face!
Here are some stages with characteristics to look out for when checking pictures of acne on the net:
Microcomedone Stage
Bacteria builds up in the pore but is not inflamed. This stage may still not be visible to the naked eye. Comedones can be the result. They come in two kinds – whiteheads and blackheads.
Whiteheads may not be easily seen as the bacteria remains below the surface of the skin, but once the pore opens to the air the melanin or pigmentation in the skin cells can turn a brown or black color and become visible. They are commonly known as blackheads.
Inflammatory Acne
If acne becomes inflamed you may notice an eruption on the skin and the formation of a red bump called a papule.
You may see pictures of acne where there is a whitish area in the middle of the pimple. In this case the condition has now become a pastule, or to use a more common term for these pimples, ‘zits’. Some may feel tempted to use their fingernails to squeeze the pus out of them. Remember though that if your fingernails are not clean, dirt could get into the open pimple and cause infection.
A further graduation is the nodule, or cyst. Here, the bacteria leaks to surrounding skin and can cause an inflamed bump which can be very painful and sensitive to touch.
The big three search engines each have a useful image library search feature which can yield excellent results if you need to browse over pictures of acne to help in your research.
You can fire up Google, Yahoo, or MSN and use their image search feature. The online image library flickr also has a large collection sent in from various acne sufferers.
There are more specialist sites though giving helpful pictures of acne in the various stages with cut-away diagrams showing what is going on inside the hair follicle. You will also find suggestions for the best medication to use for a particular stage of development.
You can take some comfort from the fact that you are certainly not alone if you suffer with acne. The condition affects millions. For this reason there is a huge amount of information on the internet about this condition. Be aware that many web sites dealing with acne are there to promote products and medications so look for information written by doctors and dermatologists who don’t have a hidden agenda who simply want to provide the acne sufferer with guidance on how to deal with the problem.
Why not set yourself a project to find out as much as you can about acne, check over the pictures of acne from the search engines mentioned above and the one in the resource box below, and devise a strategy to deal with it.
Here is an easy to use page containing links to the top free resources for diagrams and pictures of acne: http://www.bodyfaq.com/Acne-Library/acne-picture-gallery.html
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