Acne is a common skin condition that affects people of all different ages, genders, and races. It happens when hair follicles under the skin become clogged. Sebum, the oil that helps keep skin from drying out, and dead skin cells plug the pores, which leads to outbreaks of pimples or zits. Most often, the outbreaks occur on the face but can also appear on the back, chest, and shoulders.

WHAT IS ACNE?

Acne is an inflammatory disorder of the skin. When someone has acne, the hair, sebum, and keratinocytes stick together inside the pore. This prevents the keratinocytes from shedding and keeps the sebum from reaching the surface of the skin. The mixture of oil and cells allows bacteria that normally live on the skin to grow in the plugged follicles and cause inflammation—swelling, redness, heat, and pain. When the wall of the plugged follicle breaks down, it spills the bacteria, skin cells, and sebum into nearby skin, creating zits or pimples.

WHO IS AFFECTED BY ACNE?

People of all races and ages get acne. What was once considered a concern of teenagers, is now an issue with all age groups.

Types Of Acne:

Acne causes several types of lesions, or pimples. Doctors refer to enlarged or plugged hair follicles as comedones.
Here are some different types of acne:

Whiteheads: Plugged hair follicles that stay beneath the skin and produce a white bump.

Blackheads: Plugged follicles that reach the surface of the skin and open up. These look black on the skin surface because the air discolours the sebum.

Papules: Inflamed lesions that usually appear as small, pink bumps on the skin and can be tender to the touch.

Pustules / Pimples: Papules topped by white or yellow pus-filled lesions that may be red at the base.

Nodules: Large, painful solid lesions that are lodged deep within the skin.

Cystic Acne: Deep, painful, pus-filled lesions.

WHAT CAUSES ACNE?

Skin professionals understand there are many causes linked to the development of acne: