Blackheads, Whiteheads and Mild Inflammatory Acne
Blackheads are named as such because they are typically black in colour. Despite the name, it is not dirt that provides for the coloration but the accumulation of the dark pigment called melanin, skin particles and excess skin debris.
Blackhead is one type of acne. The other two are whitehead and mild inflammatory acne known as popules, postules nodules and cysts.
Fundamentally, blackhead formations are done mainly due to excess sebum (an oily substance) production by the sebaceous glands, trapped in the pores of the skin. If sebum hardens near the upper layers of the skin, it will clog the skin openings and form a plug. Whitehead are formed in the same manner, the only difference is the plugs are seated much deeper in to the skin.
When an infection under the plug starts due to the overproduction of white blood cells battling against the Propionibacterium acnes or P. acnes, mild inflammatory acne is formed. The area then becomes red and inflamed.
There are two forms of mild inflammatory acne. There is the popules, these are red, inflamed acne and the other type is the pustules. It is characterized by the collection of white matter in the center of the pus.
A simple set of treatments may prove useful as initial pre-treatment medications for blackheads, whiteheads and mild inflammatory acnes. These are typically not prescribed by dermatologists and physicians and are not yet proven medically. Some of these are “homeophatics” or those that are generally bought over the counter, or the safer alternative through using organic chemicals that are found in fruits and certain seeds.
Treatments such as these may be used individually or combined like in the case of the salicylic acid which must always be combined with either alcohol or acetone if you would not want to be bothered with the smell.
Benzoyl peroxide and the plain soap and water are the most basic homeopathics which may be used even without a doctor’s prescription. In most severe cases though; topical antibiotics, oral antibiotics, contraceptive antibiotics and acne surgery may be performed. Prior to this, the health condition of the patient must be tested and approved by the physician. Otherwise, the schedule for the treatment may be delayed and re-scheduled until the pre-existing skin condition subsides.
Under any condition, an acne-inflicted person must not try to force the whiteheads, blackheads or the forms of mild inflammatory acne to burst without the regulation of the doctor as this action may infect the skin and may worsen the state of the skin disorder. Popping out the pustule of the acne or the plugs in whiteheads and blackheads may leave the skin open t bacterial attack that may lead to scarring.
Oral and topical medications must not be used without the supervision of a physician. Principally, topical medications are aids in neutralizing the bacteria found in the skin and when combined with other chemical agents, may help deplete the overproduced sebum, making an allowance for acne spots to eventually heal.
The last treatment that may be applied to whiteheads, blackheads and mild inflammatory acne is the acne surgery which must be performed by an expert in the field. This form of treatment is seldom sought by acne-inflicted persons with mild cases; surgical procedures however may provide great improvements in the skin’s appearance and may later save the patient for succeeding surgeries which may be caused by scarring.
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