1. What is Acne?

Acne is the skin condition that is responsible for whiteheads, blackheads and many other kinds of eruptions that you normally see on your skin. Typically, inflamed growths on skin that take a reddish hue can be attributed to severe acne. For example, papules, cysts or pustules are also a by product of this skin condition.

2. Are ‘zits’ caused by acne?

Yes, ‘zits’ or pimples are skin inflammations caused by acne or acne vulgaris as your dermatologist may refer to it. ‘Zits’ may contain pus, debris and oil and generally have a whitish ‘head’ or top. When a break in the follicle wall lets white cells invade, pus is formed and a pimple or ‘zit’ appears on your skin.

3. What are blackheads?

A common skin problem caused by acne, a blackhead is a blackish/ brownish spot that plugs the pores on the skin surface. There is usually no inflammation around the blackhead. Oil secreted by the glands and dead skin oxidize when exposed to air to give the dark color of the black head. Also called an open comedo.

4. What are whiteheads?

Whiteheads are closed comedos that are not accompanied by inflammation of the skin. When sebaceous matter and cell debris harden inside the follicle, the pore is effectively blocked. The trapped sebum is still under the skin surface and a tiny white spot emerges at this spot. Some whiteheads may be too small to be visible.

5. Why shouldn’t I pick whiteheads or blackheads?

Blackheads or whiteheads may simply release the trapped contents slowly and heal over time. But when you pick them, you may damage the follicle wall and allow white cells in. When this happens, the pore becomes inflamed resulting in ‘inflammatory acne’. The skin becomes red and painful at this spot.

6. My dermatologist says I have pustules. What are these?

The dermatologist is referring to your pimples or ‘zits’, by the medical term, pustules. When white cells invade a break in the follicle wall, the skin pore becomes inflamed. A few days later, these white blood cells gravitate towards the skin surface, making an appearance as pimples, zits or pustules.

7. My baby has white spots on her skin. Is this acne?

Babies do get acne in the form of tiny white bumps on the skin surface when dead skin cells collect in pockets on the surface of the skin. Babies normally have these white spots or bumps over the nose and check bone area. When the surface wears away, allowing the dead skin to slough off, these bumps disappear.

8. Do I need to have my baby’s acne white spots treated by a dermatologist?

Acne is common in newborns and young infants and it appears in the form of white spots over the nose and cheeks. Usually, over the first few weeks, you will find these spots disappearing from your baby’s skin on their own without any treatment.

9. Does acne affect only teenagers?

Acne can affect people of all ages, including new born babies. But it is most common in teenagers. In fact, almost every teenager suffers from acne at some point of time, if not frequently. You will find that between the age of ten and thirteen most people exhibit the first signs of acne.

10) Is acne contagious?

Acne cannot be passed from one person to another by touching, kissing or hugging. This skin condition is primarily caused by excess oil secretion and blocked skin pores. Bacteria do cause some of the acne related problems, but transmission of these organisms is not an issue because everyone has these Propionibacterium acnes bacteria in their own skin.