What is acne

Most people who have reached or passed adolescence have suffered at least slightly from the unsightliness and irritation of acne. A few lucky people seem rarely or never to be touched by this problem. For the majority, acne is something that they have to deal with, perhaps mainly as teens, perhaps at least off and on throughout their lives. And for some people, acne is a terrible invader, always there, always irritating, always ugly, always on their minds, always interfering with their self-confidence and personal relationships.

Acne is caused when the hair follicles in our skin get blocked. No one knows precisely why these blockages occur, nor why they are more severe in some people than in others, even in different members of the same family. It also is not known why acne commonly first occurs after puberty, although the sebaceous glands grow considerably at this time, which could be a factor. The oil produced by hair follicles, called sebum, is normally beneficial because it helps prevent the skin from drying and limits skin infections. But when sebum can't drain, it builds up and actually becomes a culture medium for bacteria.

As pimples develop, the skin may become inflamed. This inflammation may last for a time even after a pimple bursts or heals (you shouldn't squeeze pimples, because squeezing can lead to more severe skin infections). In severe cases, scarring may take place, caused by imperfections in the inflammatory response to infection. It is not known why some people are more susceptible to acne scarring than others. Fortunately, most acne spots and inflammation heal over time, but the healing process can take months.