Acne & Blackheads: Acne Causes and Treatment

Normal manifestations of common acne are blackheads, which like most acne, arise in the face and in people of all ages. Also known as open comedones, blackheads are wide-open pores not yet inflamed that have been clogged by sebum and keratin. Due to these openings and their subsequent access to air, the material clogged within the follicle oxidizes, forming tiny blackish dots on the surface of the skin. Whiteheads, on the other hand, occur in follicles that have a smaller opening. As the plugged material inside is not accessible by air, it stays its whitish color.

Blackheads differ from other types of pimples in that they are usually very tiny and do not become inflamed. Blackheads can arise in any area of the skin with follicles. They are most commonly found on the face and arms. Although small in size, if ignored, blackheads can turn into severe forms of acne and result in unappealing scars.

How Do Blackheads and Other Phases of Acne Form?

Blackheads form through a similar process as other pimples. A normal functioning sebaceous gland produces the oil sebum, which makes its way to the surface of the skin through the sebaceous duct. However, sometimes sebum hardens or mixes with debris and/or skin cells and clogs the pore.

A blackhead becomes noticeable to us as a blackhead when the clogging material oxidizes with air, turning it black. Should the duct become damaged or become inflamed, it is considered a pimple or, if more severe, an acne cyst.

The leading cause of acne breakouts is injury to the sebaceous ducts. During periods of teen acne (puberty) or adult acne (most likely caused by stress), androgen levels are high, fueling sebum production and release. The power at which sebum travels through the sebum ducts literally causes injury to the cells lining them.

The state of sebum can further damage the follicle. If the body is deficient in linoleic acid, the glands make a harder oil that is more harsh on the cells lining the canal.

Lastly, the sebum that is trapped beneath a clog is forced to amass within the follicle, forcing it to distend and become further inflamed.

The body responds as it does to all other bodily injuries and sends lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils to the site of the damage for healing. These immune system cells, in the process of recognizing and engulfing antigens, cause the inflammation we call acne. Severe cystic acne can therefore appear without infection. It is when cystic acne becomes infected that abscesses form, which also result in acne scarring.

Treating from the Inside: Acne and Blackhead Removal

In order to prevent the formation of blackheads, one needs to address acne from the inside in addition to the outside by managing sebum output and its state, plus excess levels of dead skin and bacteria.

Although exfoliation to clear away excess pore-clogging skin is suitable for blackhead treatment, it may irritate the skin and other lesions, causing inflammation and more acne problems. To protect against such irritation, one must find a solution appropriate for treatment of all acne lesions: blackheads, whiteheads, papules and pustules.

Most blackhead-specific as well as some acne treatments only focus on the un-clogging of pores. They use harsh chemicals like benzoyl peroxide that dry and cause free radicals that literally damage the skin to unblock clogged pores and eliminate follicle-plugging keratin.

Solve your acne troubles by focusing on the inside by using a facial acne treatment that manages sebaceous gland activity naturally. Prescription sebum inhibitors have extreme side effects, which include almost unbearably dry skin, chapped lips, nose bleeds, eye irritation and birth defects.

Licorice root extract is a natural inhibitor of androgen, the hormones linked to sebum activity. Once sebum manufacture and distribution is controlled, you prevent the primary cause of acne - damage and therefore inflammation to the sebaceous ducts.

By consuming one's daily intake of essential fatty acids, one can maintain healthy sebum that is less likely to irritate or plug skin follicles.

Employing the tricks of acne home remedies will get to the root of your acne problem. Focus on the causes and not the symptoms.

Treat your acne with a versatile solution that concentrates on the real roots of acne. BIOSKINFORTE solves both teen acne associated with puberty hormone changes and stress-related adult acne. BIOSKINFORTE stops blackheads from forming using natural acne home remedies that get sebum production under control and keep it from hardening. Additionally, BIOSKINFORTE utilizes glycoconjugates from the Helix Aspersa Muller that rejuvenates injured sebum canal cells and manages the body's inflammatory response, the foremost cause of acne.

BIO ACNE CARE
Gentle but effective acne treatment serum for pimples & acne cysts

The product is oil free and contains the following ingredients that act in concert to yield benefits that go beyond the sum of those of their specific parts:

a) our biological Helix Aspersa Müller Glycoconjugates with antioxidant, antimicrobial & skin regeneration properties to heal skin lesions within the follicles, control acne bacteria and prevent and get rid of acne scars;

b) the active extract of the bark of the Black willow ( Salix Nigra) tree to enhance cell renewal on the surface of the skin, unclog pores and reduce acneic skin flora (Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus). The actual content of willow (Salix Nigra) extract expressed as standarized salicylic acid is less than 0.5%. The Salix Nigra extract also provides natural B-hydroxy acid activity, without the skin irritation commonly associated with synthetic salicylic acid;

c) modified glucomannan (carbohydrate) -high molecular weight heterpolysaccharides made up of glucose and mannose derived from the Japanese Konjac tuber (root)- that reduce the surface tension of oil and facilitates its dispersion into droplets. These droplets get distributed evenly along the skin’s surface, minimizing their presence and oily feel;

d) Hyaluronic Acid a glycosaminoglycan (also present in the snail serum) to deeply moisturize the skin and restore the capacity of the skin to hold in moisture; and seaweed extracts that provide moisture and trace minerals necessary for the recovery of damaged skin cells; and sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid (naturally in human skin) moisturizer;

e) Japanese Licochalcone LR-15 from Licorice (Glycyrrhiza inflate) extract which clinicals (*) in Japan have shown that at very low concentration reduces undesired p. acnes and other acneic skin flora, is anti-irritating, anti-inflammatory and reduces sebum output. 

Apply a thin layer twice a day on all the area affected with acne (whole face, chest or back) and then always use sun protection.  If you are allergic to salycilic acid or to aspirin do not use the product and if you experience stinging or irritation (very unlikely) you must stop using the product and consult your physician.

Made in the USA. One Month Supply 50 grams = 1.76 oz

50 Grams in Airless Pump Bottle.
$59

(*) A New Dermatological Availability of the Flavonoid Fraction from Licorice Roots-Effect on Acne
Journal of Society Cosmetic Chemists Japan, VOL.37; NO.3; PAGE. 179-186(2003) Authors: Kambara Toshimitsu^a, Zhou Y, Kawashima Yoshihito^a, Kishida Naoko^a, Mizutani Kenji^a, Ikeda Takao^a, Kameyama Koichiro^b.

^a Research Center, Maruzen Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., 1089-8 Sagata, Shin-ichi, Fukuyama, 729-3102 Hiroshima, Japan. ^bAoyama Dermatological Clinic, dr@aoyamahihuka.com 5-1-3 Aoyama 8F Minato-ku Tokyo 107 Japan.

Abstract: Licochalcone-A, Polyol Soluble Licorice Extract P-U (now in the market as Licochalcone LR-15), prepared from the roots of Glycyrrhiza Inflata Batalin shows several activities such as inhibitory actions of testosterone 5 ALPHA-reductase, lipase and phospholipase A2, as well as androgen receptor antagonist, antimicrobial and SOD-like antioxidant actions, which relate to skin care, especially the suppression of acne formation and development. On basis of this evidence, a trial with acne patients was carried out and the efficacy of the extract was demonstrated clinically.