3 Acne Terms: Papules, Postules, and Cysts

You hear these terms a lot but do you really know what they mean?  Here is further explanation on these 3 acne terms in hopes it will help you understand what is happening with your skin.

A papule is a red swelled bump that does not have a head that you can see.  Follicles “break” and fix themselves over and over.  But, if your body is unable to fix these breaks fast enough so whatever was in that follicle opening- i.e. sebum (oil), hair, bacteria, and dead skin cells – will  go into the tissue around the area.  Your body then works to rid itself of these things.  While it does, it releases enzymes that destroy the area around the follicle.  If this happens near the top, you will soon see a postule (a white or yellow head – this is pus filled).

Eventually, this will “pop” on its own.  This could be the end of that pimple; however, sometimes some of this debris (oil, hair, dead skin) is left behind to start the cycle of another pimple.  So, if you are one of those people that seem to get pimples in the same spot over and over again, this is why.

Cysts, on the other hand, are much larger and are deeper under the surface.  These can take months to heal.  The inflammation can increase under the surface, hurting the tissue underneath.  When it finally pops, there are remnants left behind, starting the cycle over.

Tanning: Sunless, Spray, Airbrush - what is it?

Sunless tanning, spray tanning, airbrush tanning…it’s called many things but basically it’s a tan without exposure to the sun and its harmful rays. The ingredient used in spray tanning is DHA which is FDA approved. It’s basically a plant based sugar and it reacts with the amino acids in the dead layer of your skin.

As you shed your skin, your tan will fade. But, it will be a gradual process.


So, basically, you are sprayed with a solution of this spray tan. You can opt to wear clothes or not. The whole process should only take a couple of minutes. Soon, you’ll see your new tan! You can usually take a shower about 4-5 hours after the treatment. Consult your local spray tanner for more detailed information.

It’s nice because you can get a spray tan whenever you feel like getting one. Plus, they are getting more and more popular so it’s easy to find a place that you can get it done at. You get a more natural looking tan (as opposed to those lotions that you rub on). And, of course, it stays on longer.

Sure, it can get expensive to keep up. However, consider what it would cost you to go to a tanning booth – not just in dollars but in the UV rays that are harmful to us all. There’s nothing wrong with doing something for yourself – especially if it makes you feel good. If it boosts your self esteem and makes you feel good / confident, there’s no harm then.

To get the best spray tan, I always suggest to exfoliate first!!! And, you should also wax and shave prior to your treatment as well. Don’t use anything that has any perfume in it because it could affect your tan. And, another suggestion is to drink lots of water so that your skin doesn’t dry out. The drier your skin, the more it will flake!!

Bacteria

More often than not, the cause of pimples is a bacteria called P.acnes and they do well where there is no oxygen. They love oil (sebum). And, they live in the skin – not on top of it. So, the products you buy that are meant to disinfect acne prone skin won’t work in these cases.

P.acnes grows quickly. As it grows, they expel chemicals that destroys the lining of the hair follicle. White blood cells come to the rescue to help kill the bacteria. This is when you “feel a pimple coming on”. As these blood cells attack, enzymes are released, allowing it to “pop”.

People who suffer from inflammatory acne don’t get the “whiteheads” or “blackheads” that many people do. Everyone is different. If you are one of these people, this is how your immune system responds to your skin problems.

Depending on the size / location of this pimple, the stuff that comes out of it, and how your immune system reacts, different things can happen.

Keep tuning in to gain more knowledge about the largest organ of the body.

Blackheads and Whiteheads aren't created equal - or are they?

Some types of acne never get past the beginning stage. They stay inside the follicle, oil comes out to the top and eventually, the skin removes it. But, some do turn into what we refer to as acne. As dead skin collects and oil increases, you can see and feel the bump. It can turn into a blackhead – where the pore is open at the top and is dark in appearance. Incidentally, this dark appearance isn’t dirt, as some believe. It’s actually skin pigment. Blackheads usually aren’t our biggest problem because they typically don’t turn into the red bothersome acne…and they don’t usually leave scars. They can stay in the pore from days to years! A whitehead on the other hand, is a closed comedo. It gets bigger and there’s usually a tiny white bump on the top of your skin.

This is what is considered noninflammatory acne: blackheads, whiteheads or a combination of these. Inflammatory acne are considered the pimples, papules, pustules and cysts.

Acne and YOU - the POWER of Knowledge

Experts (i.e. Dermatologists) recommend that you take control of your acne by gaining knowledge about acne. Many people that try different acne treatments get poor results because they don’t know what the treatment is supposed to do. If you don’t understand, you will be disappointed.

Helping control your acne takes time and patience. So, learn as much as you can to combat this common problem. You don’t have the same type of skin type or skin problems that your kids have or your neighbors have or even your co-workers have. There isn’t one cure. It’s something you learn about and take action with.

You should be your own skin expert. Listen to your skin and don’t use something that has an adverse effect on you. Your skin changes every day, every season, every year. Your hormones change your skin. So you need to educate yourself and recognize when you need to give your skin a softer or more aggressive treatment. Or, maybe you need something totally different from what was working.

So, learn about your acne and then YOU can make the best decisions about YOUR skin!

Keep reading and let me know what you want to hear more about!

Dry Eye Eye Cream

Try this At Home Dry Eye Eye Cream

The skin around your eyes can become extremely dry. The ingredients in this recipe can help those pesky eye wrinkles.

A couple vitamin E capsules
About a teaspoon of cocoa butter
Mix together and pat around the eye area. Do not rub – it’s always best to gently “pat” the skin around the eyes. Use twice a day!

Moisturize your Oily Skin

Great for oily skin as well as normal skin!
1 squirt of honey
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vegetable oil
Water
Warm the honey in the microwave for just a couple seconds. Stir in the remaining ingredients until well incorporated.
Apply to face in the evening. Rinse with warm water and dry.

7 steps to Smoother Skin

Do you have areas of your body that become really dry and dark, such as elbows and knees? This is due to the build up of keratin. 
So, how do you alleviate these keratin build-ups?
Here are 7 steps to alleviate dry, patchy elbows:

1.  Take a short bath – no longer than 10 minutes – in warm (not hot) water.
2.  Add a small amount of mineral oil.
3.  Rub the rough areas with a wet cloth.
4.  For really rough areas, use your Nutt So Ruff scrub bar.
5.  Take a piece of fresh lemon and rub on these areas after your bath.
6.  Rinse with cool water.
7.  Moisturize.

Viola!