7655 Girard Ave, Suite 112 (Inside Phenix Salon), La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92037
Acne 101
What is Acne?
Acne is definitely a four-letter word for those who suffer with it. It is an inherited disorder of the pores – pores that fill up with dead skin cells much like a clogged drain. Normal skin sheds 1 layer of dead skin cells per day whereas acne-prone skin sheds up to 5 layers which the body just simply can not keep up with. This forms congestion in the pore which becomes noninflamed acne lesions (blackheads and whiteheads) and/or if bacteria are present, inflamed pimples, pustules and cysts. Most people have a combination of the two.
Acne is a mysterious genetic disorder without a cure, but one thing IS for sure – it can be controlled with the right combination of products used in the correct way. Just as with a clogged drain, the pore must be treated with products that unclog it, keep it unclogged and kill the acne bacteria. La Jolla Acne Specialists employs a clear-skin system that will typically have your acne under control in 3-6 months, depending on your type of acne and compliance. We combine the power of clinical-grade homecare products which are customized for your type of acne and skin with a series of bi-monthly (2x a month) treatments that facilitate the clearing of your skin. La Jolla Acne Specialists also uses the FDA cleared, award winning Celluma LED and Illuminate to assist in your clear skin journey to achieve even faster results. We also teach you about other aggravating factors that make you break out – food, certain medications, cosmetics, stress, hormones and common ingredients in skin care formulations that might be clogging your pores (this is even true for professional and prescription products!).
Acne 101
What is Non-Inflamed Acne, Whitehead?
What is Inflamed Acne, Inflammatory Papule?
What is Non-Inflamed Acne, Whitehead?
Dead skin cells and oil (plus other debris) form a plug inside the pore. If this plug does not become inflamed, it can become a whitehead — a non-inflamed lesion under the skin, also called a “closed comedone”. This is also called “maturation arrest” acne, as it has not “matured” into a blackhead yet.
What is Non-Inflamed Acne, Blackhead?
What is Inflamed Acne, Inflammatory Papule?
What is Non-Inflamed Acne, Whitehead?
This is another non-inflamed acne lesion called a blackhead, where the pore remains open, also known as an “open comedone.” In the case of a blackhead, the tip of the plug darkens as it is exposed to oxygen in the environment.
What is Inflamed Acne, Inflammatory Papule?
What is Inflamed Acne, Inflammatory Papule?
What is Inflamed Acne, Inflammatory Papule?
As the oil and the dead skin cells build up, they put pressure on the cells surrounding the pore. With enough pressure, the sides of the pore rupture and the contents of the pore leak into the surrounding skin. Because this material contains a lot of P. acnes bacteria, the surrounding skin now becomes infected, creating a red bump that we know as a pimple. The medical term for this red bump is an inflammatory papule.
What is Inflamed Acne, Pustule?
What is Inflamed Acne, Pustule?
What is Inflamed Acne, Inflammatory Papule?
This is a pustule which is different from a pimple only in that it contains white blood cells. When the immune system fights off the P. acnes infection, white blood cells, which are soldiers of the immune system — pile up, creating pus in the pore.
What is inflamed Acne, Nodule
What is Inflamed Acne, Pustule?
What is inflamed Acne, Nodule
A nodule is a solid dome-shaped lesion that extends below the surface, deep into the layers of the skin. Scarring is common with nodules and can sometimes leave an impaction behind, which can flare again and again.
What is Inflamed Acne, Cysts?
What is Inflamed Acne, Pustule?
What is inflamed Acne, Nodule
When a group of pustules cluster together under the skin, they form a cyst. An acne cyst can appear similar to a nodule, but is pus-filled, and can have a diameter of 5mm or more across. They are usually very painful and scarring is common with cysts.