5 Alpha Reductase is an enzyme, which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is the hormone that triggers Androgenetic Alopecia in individuals who are genetically susceptible.
A microorganism that can only grow only in the absence of oxygen.
The most severe type of acne in which nodules beneath the skin surface are connected to other acne lesions. The comedones are normally multiple, at least in groups of two or three, and are often characterized by foul smelling pus, and even after they are drained they often still smell.
A form of acne that results from types of trauma. It develops in response to sweat covered skin, or heat, constant pressure, and or repetitive friction against the skin. It is caused by skin trauma and you are at risk by wearing a tight sports head band around your temple for too long, wearing backpacks, and wearing helmets and visors to protect yourself in certain sports. Also shoulder pads or kneepads can cause the heat or skin trauma needed to produce this sort of acne.
There is another rarer type of scalp acne, a condition known as Acne Necrotica which is a more severe form of scalp folliculitis also known as ‘acne varioliformis’ or ‘acne frontalis’. The inflamed papules develop a black crust, which often leave a permanent pox scar on the face or scalp.
The medical term for the most common form of acne, which is characterised by the presence of one or more types of blackheads, whiteheads, papules and pustules.
Hydrocarbons which do not contain a benzene ring.
Androgenic refers to androgenic hormones which stimulate the sebaceous glands to create sebum.
Hormones present in both males and females that stimulate the sebaceous glands. Androgens are responsible for physical maturation in males and therefore the level of androgens are much higher levels in males, which probably accounts for the fact that males in general suffer from more extreme forms of acne. The primary androgen is the testosterone, but the androgens are also the basis of the female sex hormone oestrogen. In women they diminish with the menopause and many women cease to suffer from acne once they are menopausal.
A medication that destroys microorganisms.
A chemical that inhibits oxidation, oxidative damage is damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive chemicals that capture
electrons to change their molecular structure. Antioxidants acts as a counter active agents which helps to prevent the damage of air.
An open comedone, or acne lesion that is filled with excess oil and dead skin cells, but is not inflamed. It is called an open comedone because the blocked pore in enlarges and pushes through the surface of the skin. The plug has a dark appearance because of a buildup of melanin, the skin's dark pigment.
A rash characterized by many comedones that develops from exposure to chlorine in chlorinated chemicals or herbicides. Adult Acne Chloracne is a rare reaction to a group of chemicals in particular the dioxins. The agents that cause the Chloracne are fat-soluble and they can stay in the body for a long time in chronic cases.
To complicate matter severe forms of teen acne can mimic adult acne Chloracne, but it is not possible for you to be suffering from Chloracne unless you have been exposed to one of the contaminants present in Agent Orange. Adult Chloracne may mimic acne adult in both appearance and distribution of the pimples, but adult acne does not usually last as long, vets from the Vietnam War could still be suffering from Chloracne.
However how Chloracne occurs is variable the same number of people can be exposed to the same amount of dioxins and all the reactions will be different. They look like blackheads or cysts but they often occur behind the ears, in the armpits and groin region, as well as on the cheeks. In severe cases, it can also be seen on the feet and legs.
A whitehead or a non-inflammatory comedo with a white center.
The name given to an acne lesion
A substance likely to cause comedones.
In the body cortisol is a corticosteroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex that is produced as a response to stress. It increases blood pressure and the blood sugar levels as well as suppressing the immune system. In some women it may lead to infertility. In pharmacology, cortisol is a hydrocortisone medication used to treat allergies and inflammation, historically rheumatoid arthritis. When the body produces too much of it it leads to Hypercortisolism, clinical depression, and psychological stress.
The red marks, most apparent on fair complexions, that are not scars but occur when a pimple has just healed, they can take a year to heal correctly.
Picked or scratched secondary lesions from acne scars.
The shaft in the skin through which a hair develops and grows, which shares its home in the same place that sebum is excreted from sebaceous glands to the surface of the skin.
Perifolliculitis capitis abscedens et suffodiens is also known as dissecting cellulitis or folliculitis, or perifolliculitis capitis. Fortunately this mouthful is also rare, but it is a very severe form of scalp folliculitis sometimes associated with acne conglobata, hidradenitis suppurativa and spinal arthritis or spondyloarthropathy. It is more common amongst black men, but it can occur in women and babies as well as the white skinned. The cysts often have pus coming out of them, and the condition nearly always leads to a temporary loss of hair in the affected areas. This acne condition can be extremely resistant to acne treatment, and when it fails to respond to acne medication then permanent scarring and bald patches may well occur.
Cushing's syndrome is a hormonal disorder, which is a reaction of the bodies’ tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol.
Sometimes called "hypercortisolism," it is relatively rare and most commonly affects adults aged 20 to 50. Cushing's disease is known as secondary hypercortisolism, it refers to a tumor in the pituitary gland that stimulates excessive release of cortisol from the adrenal gland by releasing large amounts of ACTH. Both are more common in domestic dogs. Untreated in humans it leads to heart disease and diabetes mellitus.
Proteins produced by the body that are carried away from the production source, and utilized by another area. Certain hormones cause physical maturity during puberty, and it is these androgenic hormones, which are thought to cause acne.
Biologically inflammation is the reaction of tissue to injury, infection or irritation, characterised by pain, swelling, redness and heat. In acne, "inflammatory" describes lesions that are swollen by bacteria trapped in clogged follicles. Process by which the body attempts to contain foreign organisms from the body or repair the injury caused by the foreign body.
The process includes the recognition of foreign material, leakage of fluid and cells into the tissues, attraction of immune cells to the site of injury, removal of the foreign organisms or the resultant dead material by the immune cells and release of chemical signals to initiate the repair process.
The inflammatory process may be acute or chronic, reflecting the time frame over which this event took place.
The keratinocytes or skin cells undergo maturation and differentiation as the cell migrates from the basal layer to the stratum corneum.
Fatlike substances made up of aliphatic hydrocarbons, characterised by being water insoluble but are soluble in organic solvents such as alcohol, ether, chloroform, or benzene. Lipids are a source of fuel, an important constituent of cell structure. Lipids include fatty acids, neutral fats, waxes and steroids. Cells are made up of lipids proteins and carbohydrates.
A flat spot or patch of skin that is not the same color as the surrounding skin.
A pigment that gives hair and skin a color.
The first stage of comedo formation; a comedo so miniscule it can only be detected under a microscope.
A type of white blood cell as are, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.
A severe form of acne characterised by deep, inflamed nodules and large, lesions filled with pus that resembles a boil. The nodules tend to feel firm, but they are tender. The severe inflammation can cause the acne to become very red or even purple, and they tend to scar when it heals.
Nodulocystic acne tends to affect the face, chest and back, but it rarely found in females.
Not likely to cause comedones.
In acne, comedones that are not associated with redness in the skin.
(A blackhead) a noninflammatory comedo with a dark top and firmly packed contents.
Oxidation is the process by which we burn calories to produce energy which the cells need to be healthy.
An inflammatory comedo that resembles a small, red bump on the skin.
A papule is a type of lesion or a change in the body tissue, making it solid and slightly raised above the skins normal surface. A papule can be very tiny and look like sandpaper, and they do not have a head and they should never be popped.
Papulopustular relates to an eruption of acne, or acne rosacea or dermatitis which is composed of papules and pustules.
This disease was once named because it was once thought to affect women who had enlarged cysts on the ovaries called polycystic ovaries. It retains the name but it is now known it can affect any woman with normal ovaries and normal menstrual cycles. It causes women to develop male like hirsuteness (hairiness) and obesity resulting from abnormalities in the metabolism of androgens and oestrogen, which control androgen production.
Excessive skin darkening or pigmentation in areas where the skin was inflamed.
A normal resident on healthy skin, P. acnes will multiply exponentially in clogged hair follicles where sebum is trapped. Propionibacterium Acnes cause the skin disorder referred to under the general name of acne. Once the pore has blocked this anaerobic bacteria secretes chemicals that break down the wall of the pore, spilling bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus into the skin.
The stage in life when a child becomes physically an adult as the reproductive organs begin to function it is accompanied by a large increase in hormone production.
Pustules are a raised lesion, which contains water or pus, they are not necessarily acne they are formed when you are suffering from chicken pox.
A natural or synthetic substance derived from vitamin A.
Scalp Acne cause is a misnomer the condition is Scalp folliculitis, and it is caused by inflammation of the hair follicles of the scalp it is also correctly called ‘acne necrotica miliaris’ or ‘Proprionibacterium’ folliculitis.
Scalp folliculitis, or acne in the scalp is usually characterized by small pustules, which are extremely itchy, and they often appear along the hairline. They are so very itchy it is very hard to resist scratching them particularly in your sleep. When they have had the top knocked off them they then crust and become very painful. Sometimes a few lesions appear and at other times, there are numerous lesions.
Whilst the precise cause has not been identified it is understood to be an inflammatory reaction to parts of the hair follicle, these can include but are not inclusive of bacteria particularly Propionibacterium acnes, but in severe cases, also Staphylococcus aureus, yeasts, and mites cause the lesions.
Glands in the skin that produce an oily substance called sebum they are attached to hair follicles and are found mostly on the face, neck, back and chest.
The oily substance produced by sebaceous glands.
Steroid acne is not technically a form of acne, although it is similar to acne vulgaris but it is present after steroids, the corticosteroid medications have been administered for a long time. Technically, it is an acneiform, which manifests itself in the form of acne as nodules, cysts, papulopustules or comedones. These disorders of the skin, which appear to be acne, result from a variety of causes, which include a reaction to a drug, infections and growth anomalies; they are not inclusively steroid adult acne. They include secondary syphilis, eruptive hair cysts, tuberous sclerosis and a host of to other things, including acne rosacea. It is most likely to manifest itself on the face neck the back and the arms. Although they can be pustular they are far more likely to look like little small bumps, and they may itch. Steroid acne may clear up by itself even whilst you are taking the medicine, but normally it does not until you stop applying the cream or taking the medicine, either way acne products will not help steroid adult acne.
Components of the blood that help the body to ward off infection.
An acne lesion that forms when oil and skin cells block the opening of a hair follicle. For this reason, whiteheads are called “closed comedomes” the air does not reach them.
