What is acne?

Acne is a common skin condition which occurs when the pores of the skin become blocked by various substances like dead skin cells, sebum, and bacteria. This results in blackheads, whiteheads, inflammatory papules, nodules and cystic lesions.

Acne is very common among teenagers and young adults. It is estimated 80% of people ages 11 to 30 will have it. Clinically, it can present as mild, moderate, or severe. Mild acne is when you have a few pimples. Moderate acne is when you have more papules, or inflamed bumps. Severe acne is when you have nodules and cysts, which are deep, solid, or pus-filled pimples¹.

Find out the contributing factors and main causes of acne below:

Causes of acne

Acne occurs when the little openings on the outer layer of the skin become obstructed. These little openings are called pores. Below are the main causes of acne.

• Oil and dead skin may fill up pores in the skin. These may result in non-inflamed plugs or comedones^{1, 5}. There are two types of plugs: If the top of the plug is white, it is called a whitehead while blackhead if the top is dark⁵
• If microbes or bacteria become trapped inside the pores, the body’s immune system may attack them, causing an inflammation in the skin and cause pimples.⁵
• Excessive or high production of oil is one of the main causes of acne and pimples. The excess oil may stay in the pore and can obstruct the sebaceous duct making a blockage inside the follicle⁶.

Risk factors for acne

• Age – People of all ages can experience skin breakouts, but it most commonly occurs during adolescence. Hormonal changes in young people cause the sebaceous glands in the skin to become more active. These oil glands become larger and produce more sebum, or skin oil, which results in acne.²
• Genetics – Heredity plays a role in acne. If both of your parents had acne, you are most likely going to experience it as well.²
• Greasy or oily substances on your skin – It helps to read the labels of your skincare products and make sure these are not oil-based. Oil-based lotions and creams may result in acne.²
• Friction or strain – Using items or articles of clothing that consistently rub or scrape your skin may lead to acne2. This includes tight clothing, cellphones, backpacks, and tight collars. It helps to wear loose or light fabric clothing to avoid having acne.²
• Medication side effect – Certain medications can be a risk factor for developing acne. These include drugs containing corticosteroids, testosterone, or lithium.²
• Skin Type – Skin type can be a factor as well. There are two types of skin – oily and dry skin. Oily skin is more vulnerable to acne due to excess sebum production. However, the pores of dry skin may also experience irritation due to dehydration and absence of oil.³

Talk to your dermatologist

It is important to seek treatment for acne because of possible acne complications². These include acne scars which may remain long after the acne itself has healed. Pigmentary changes remain after the acne has been cleared. The affected skin may become darker or hyperpigmented, or lighter or hypopigmented².

There are many treatment medications and modalities to improve your acne based on the severity of the lesions. Early treatment is a key to avoiding bad consequences of acne, such as acne scars. It is best to consult a board certified dermatologist to assess and tailor fit the proper management and treatment for your acne.

If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

Suffering from acne? Try our acne severity screener and our acne scarring risk screener, and get connected to a dermatologist.

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