Acne Treatment

Acne Lesion

An acne lesion is what you get when a blackhead or whitehead ( technically open and closed comedones ) gets infected and becomes inflammed. The basic acne lesion is called a comedo, which is a skin pore plug composed of old thickened skin oil. If the follicular orifice is patulous, the acne lesion is said to be an open comedone. The basic acne lesion is simply an enlarged hair follicle plugged with oil and bacteria. The initial acne lesion is the microcomedo, which evolves into a closed comedo (whitehead). The primary acne lesion is the "blackhead" (microcomedo), an impaction and distension of the follicle with improperly desquamated keratinocytes and sebum. The most severe Acne lesion is the cyst. A cystic acne lesion is much larger than a regular pimple, sometimes 5mm or more in diameter.

When an acne lesion is not cleared up in time, the body tries to assist the inflamed site, but in so doing can go a bit overboard and cause scars to form. Once an acne lesion is traumatized, it will take longer to heal and will be more likely to leave behind a mark.