Comedones - are known as blackheads and whiteheads, depending on whether the pore is open or not. Blackheads are pores whose distended openings are blocked by a mixture of keratin and sebum that is blackened at the surface. Whiteheads are closed pores filled with the secretion of the sebaceous gland that swells underneath the tissue.

Papules - The papule is a small, solid usually inflammatory elevation of the skin that does not contain pus. Very small papules can also appear in clusters, due to the tissue’s response to acne.

Pustules - Pustules are small inflamed elevations of the skin that are filled with pus. The pus is a combination of bacteria, white blood cells and dead skin cells.

Maculae - A macula is a red spot on the skin left behind by an acne lesion. Maculae are flat, red and stand out against the surrounding skin.

Nodules - The nodule is a solid lesion, one of the most painful lesions caused by acne. Nodules tend to extend into the deeper layers of the skin and are known to lead to tissue destruction. They can be very painful to remove and leave scars behind.

Cysts - Cysts are lesions shaped like capsules and contain liquid or semi-liquid pus similar to that found in pustules. However, cysts are larger than pustules and can be infected. Cysts are also extending deeper into the skin and leave scar tissue behind.

There are FIVE major factors responsible for causing acne.

They act together to cause the characteristic pimples, whiteheads and blackheads associated with acne.

1: Hormones.
Acne trouble begins at puberty, when the body begins to produce hormones called androgens. These hormones cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge, which is a natural part of the body's development.

2: Extra sebum.
When the sebaceous gland is stimulated by androgens, it produces extra sebum. In its journey up the follicle toward the surface, the sebum mixes with common skin bacteria and dead skin cells that have been shed from the lining of the follicle. While this process is normal, the presence of extra sebum in the follicle increases the chances of clogging — and can cause acne.

3: Follicle fallout.
Dead cells within the follicle shed gradually and are expelled onto the skin’s surface. But in patients with overactive sebaceous glands — and in nearly everyone during puberty — these cells are shed more rapidly. Mixed with a surplus of sebum, the dead skin cells form a plug in the follicle, preventing the skin from finishing its natural process of renewal.

4: Bacteria.
The bacterium Propionibacterium acnes, (P. acnes for short) is a regular resident of all skin types; it’s part of the skin’s natural sebum maintenance system. Once a follicle is plugged, however, P. acnes bacteria multiply rapidly, creating the chemical reaction we know as inflammation in the follicle and surrounding skin.

5: Inflammation.
When body encounters unwanted bacteria, it sends an army of white blood cells to attack the intruders. This process is called chemotaxis; or, simply put, the inflammatory response. This is what causes pimples to become red, swollen and painful.

"Age" and "liver" spots (lentigines) - Flat, brown areas with rounded edges usually found on the face, hands, back and feet.

Actinic keratoses - Thick, warty, rough, reddish growths on sun-exposed areas of the skin.

Seborrheic keratoses - Brown or black raised spots, or wart-like growths, that appear to be stuck to the skin’s surface.

Cherry angiomas - Harmless, small, bright red domes created by dilated blood vessels. They occur in more than 85 percent of middle-aged to elderly people, usually on the body.

Telangiectasias ("broken capillaries") - Dilated facial blood vessels, usually related to sun damage.

Bruising - Often a result of skin having lost its fat padding and becoming more susceptible to injury. Some drugs may cause bleeding under the skin.

Wrinkles - Changes in the elastic tissue from exposure to sunlight, effects of gravity, or motion factors in the skin.

FIVE habits that contribute to aging skin:

1: Cigarette smoke.
Whether smoke personally , or spend time with a smoker, cigarette smoke is damaging -- and aging -- to our skin. Research has shown that exposure to cigarette smoke significantly increases skin wrinkles and dryness.

2: Sun exposure.
Sun exposure is very aging to skin. Unprotected skin that is exposed to the sun becomes more mottled in appearance. Freckles can turn into brown sun spots, the skin takes on a dry, leathery appearance, and wrinkles and sagging increase.

3: Exposure to cold weather.
Cold winds and low temperatures contribute to aging skin by making skin dry, so if venture out in the cold be sure to use a good moisturizer.

4: Stress.
Stress and worry cause frowning, and over time the muscles in the face actually conform to that movement.

5: Lack of sleep.
Too little sleep makes you look and feel tired. One of the first places lack up sleep shows up is on the face, with dark circles and bags under the eyes, and sagging skin. Lack of sleep is also a major factor in memory loss and symptoms of depression that include low interest in daily activities and negative thinking.

Contributing factors include irritating cosmetics, heavy foundation, smoking, drugs, medication, hormonal inbalances and stress.

NINE factors that contribute to dehydrated skin:

1: Poor cleansing.
Any cleanser leaving the skin "squeaky clean" or even taut is dehydrating. Soap is harsh because it is alkaline, stripping the hydro-lipid film from the surface of the epidermis and leaving the horny layer exposed, unprotected and subject to moisture loss.

2: Skin damage.
This may result from using harsh acne treatments like hydrogen peroxide, retinoic acid, benzoyl peroxide, hexachlorophene, etc. These substances alter the keratinization process and weaken the ability of the cells in the horny layer to bond together.

3: Neglect.
This covers a wide area, from failure to drink sufficient amounts of fluid, to applying protective creams on a regular basis, to deliberately hampering the body's ability to function normally. Cigarette smoking, for example, is directly associated with wrinkle formation by constricting blood flow in the capillaries, which reduces the flow of moisture and nutrition to the cells.

4: Medication and illness.
Certain illnesses may cause internal dehydration and ultimately affect the epidermis. Diuretics and many cold and flu remedies that dry up mucous have their side-effects on the skin's surface. The use of cortisone also induces dehydration and may produce permanent effects since it acts in the dermal layer.

5: Inadequate moisturizers.
Light textured and milky moisturizers that "disappear" into the skin offer little or no protection. The water soon evaporates and does not penetrate the horny layer due to the presence of hydrophobic fats and the "Electro-Physical Barrier of Rein".

6: Scrubs.
The regular use of scrubs can break down cell cohesion in certain skin types, which reduces the capacity to retain moisture and places capillaries at risk.

7: Air conditioning and climate.
Moisture evaporates quickly within the dry atmosphere of air conditioned and/or overheated rooms, and adequate protection must be taken. Similar precautions are necessary in very hot or cold climates.

8: Hot showers.
The friction and heat of hot water remove sebum from the skin's surface, inviting capillary damage and dehydration. Always wash the face separately using lukewarm water only.

9: Diet.
An excessive intake of table salt (sodium chloride) can have a dehydrating effect. It transfers water from the interior of the cell to the interstitial fluid, creating water retention and bloating at the same time. Coffee, in addition to other negative effects, can also contribute to dehydration.

Proper skin care is essential to the prevention of skin discolorations.
The best prevention against face discoloration is wearing sunscreen whenever you go outside (even if it's just for 20 minutes).

The following steps can help prevent skin discolorations:

• Oils / Dirt / Waxes

All of these pollutants sit on the surface of your skin and can become lodged inside your pores. As the pore gets packed with more and more junk, the pore neck suffocates.

The pore neck is the rim of the pore that keeps the pore closed. As it suffocates under a combined force of bacteria and pollution, the neck relaxes it's hold.

This causes the pore to open up and become enlarged.

As you can see from this diagram, normal pores are held closed by a healthy pore neck.

Heavy buildup causes the pore neck to suffocate and become enlarged.

Enlarged pores typically are found on your nose, forehead, and cheeks.

These are the areas that are most prone to excess oil. Oil and dead skin cells are the biggest culprits for creating enlarged pores. Only by controlling your oil and eliminating your dead skin cells will you see a change in the number of enlarged pores you have.

Most skin care products actually make your skin more oily. Typical cleansers contain detergents that strip the skin of its natural oil. When this happens your oil glands go into overdrive to replenish the oil and protect your skin.

This ends up creating:

- Even more oil on the surface of your skin.
- More blemishes.
- More enlarged pores.

• Dead Skin Cell

Dead skin cells also contribute to your enlarged pore problems. These are cells that build up on the surface of your skin and dull your complexion.

Ice Pick Scars - Ice pick scars are deep, narrow scars which form pits in the skin. They are among the most common.

Rolling Scars - Rolling scars create a wave-like appearance on the skin's surface due to their wide and shallow depth.

Boxcar Scars - As one might expect from their name, boxcar scars have angular, well-defined edges usually on the temples or cheeks. Their appearance is similar to chickenpox scars.

Hypertrophic / Keloid Scars - Hypertrophic scars are raised scars which stay within the boundary of the original wound and can reduce in size with the passage of time. Keloid scars, on the other hand, are overgrowths of tissue which expand beyond the original wound site. The scar is rubbery and firm and may itch. Often they form to be much larger than the original wound.

In the simplest terms, scars form at the site of an injury to tissue. They are the visible reminders of injury and tissue repair. In the case of acne, the injury is caused by the body’s inflammatory response to sebum, bacteria and dead cells in the plugged sebaceous follicle.

Skin dryness can occur for many different reasons.

External factors which remove moisture retaining factors from the skin:

• Very cool or very hot weather (dry air/low atmoshperic humidity)

• Central heating

• Air conditioning

• Excessive bathing or showering

• Prolonged immersion in water (leisure or occupational hazards)

• Frequent use of soap and detergents

• Exposure to UV light (sunburn)

• Dehydration due to inadequate fluid intake

• Exposure to solvents/chemicals.

Intrinsic factors affecting the skin’s ability to retain moisture:

• Certain skin diseases, e.g. eczema, psoriasis, ichthyosis

• Ageing - dry skin is very common in the elderly

• Some bodily diseases, e.g. low thyroid function, adrenal disease