Acne is a very common skin complaint, which not only affects teenagers but quite a few adults as well. It is caused when the too much sebum (oil) is produced and causes the pores on the skin to become blocked. Certainly if left untreated not only is it unsightly but also can if severe enough lead to scarring on a person’s skin. Below we take a look at the acne signs and symptoms.

In most cases the main area on which the acne is likely to appear is a person’s face. However, in some cases it can also appear on their neck, chest, back or shoulders also because these areas also have glands, which are able to produce sebum. But when it comes to identifying if you have acne or not you should be looking for the following.

1. White heads and Black heads also known in medical terms as Comedones that are produced when the hair follicle openings become blocked with the oil and dead skin cells. Plus in some cases there may well be bacteria encased in these blocked openings also.

2. The next sign that a person may have acne is that spots have appeared on the skin’s surfaces, which are known as Papules. These will appear as small raised bumps on the skin’s surface and will be formed around the hair follicles. But unlike the Comedones these can become infected and inflamed and will often be red in color and are tender to touch.

3. Pustules are similar in shape and size to papules but along with being red and tender to touch they will contain a white area at the tip, which is made up of pus. It is this which if allowed to escape can cause the acne to occur else where on the body.

4. Next we move on to a form of acne, which is known as Nodules. These are much large and unsightly bumps compared to the other signs that you are suffering from acne. Along with being large they can be painful and are caused by a build up of secretions (including oil and dead skin cells) deep inside the hair follicles.

5. Finally there are cysts these again are painful and are similar in appearance to nodules but they are also filled with pus. The biggest problem a person faces if they have this kind of acne symptom is that they can lead to scarring.

The biggest problem a person faces with these signs and symptoms of acne is that if any are allowed to rupture they can actually lead to the infection and inflammation spreading to other areas of skin surrounding them. Therefore it is important that a person suffering from any of the acne signs and symptoms above should seek medical advice from their doctor as soon as possible. Simply because they may actually find that they have some other underlying medical condition that is causing them to suffer from this particular kind of skin condition.