ABOUT ACNE
CLOGGED PORES: THE ROOT OF ACNE
Pores house the tiny hair follicles that grow all over our face and body. Acne starts when one of these microscopic pores becomes plugged with oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria.
How Acne Happens
The clogged pore, called a comedo, lurks beneath the surface of your skin waiting for the right conditions. As skin produces more oil due to the clog, bacteria flourish and cause the surrounding skin to swell and inflame as your white blood cells fight the bacteria. And now, you have an acne breakout.
Learn more about how acne happens
Types of Acne
Though all blemishes start with a clogged pore (a comedo), they can react differently depending on your skin type and the conditions. Below are some examples of different types of acne, meant as informational only.
Non-inflammatory: Whiteheads Whiteheads (closed comedo) appear as whitish bumps and occur when the infected follicle stays below the surface of the skin.
Non-inflammatory: Blackheads Blackheads (open comedo) appear as dark or black spots (not from dirt, but from melanin, your skin's pigment) and occur when the infected follicle plug enlarges and reaches the surface of the skin.
Inflammatory: Papules Papules appear as small, firm, pink bumps that may be tender to the touch. They often turn into other types of acne.
Inflammatory: Pustule Pustules appear as small, round bumps that are usually reddish at the base and contain visible whitish or yellowish pus at the center.
Inflammatory: Cyst Cysts (or nodules) are usually large, inflamed, pus-filled and painful. They occur when infected material from a clogged pore spills into the surrounding skin. They can turn severe and last for weeks or months, and may cause deep scars.
Inflammatory: Acne conglobata A rare but serious form of inflammatory acne that develops mainly on the back, buttocks and chest, and is signified by severe bacterial infection.
There is no cure, but there is Proactiv
Proactiv Solution works to get at the root of the problem. It helps unclog your pores, attacks the acne-causing bacteria, clears the blemishes you have, and helps prevent new breakouts.
