Acne
Acne is a very common skin condition that causes pimples. Youโll usually get pimples on your face. Clogged pores cause acne. Teenagers and young adults most often get acne, but it can also occur during adulthood for many people. Treatment is available to clear acne from your skin and prevent scarring.
What is acne?
Acne is a common skin condition where the pores of your skin clog. Pore blockages produce blackheads, whiteheads and other types of pimples. Pimples are pus-filled, sometimes painful, bumps on your skin.
The medical term for acne is acne vulgaris.
What are the types of acne?
There are several types of acne, including:
Fungal acne (pityrosporum folliculitis): Fungal acne occurs when yeast builds up in your hair follicles. These can be itchy and inflamed.
Cystic acne: Cystic acne causes deep, pus-filled pimples and nodules. These can cause scars.
Hormonal acne: Hormonal acne affects adults who have an overproduction of sebum that clogs their pores.
Nodular acne: Nodular acne is a severe form of acne that causes pimples on the surface of your skin, and tender, nodular lumps under your skin.
All of these forms of acne can affect your self-esteem, and both cystic and nodular acne can lead to permanent skin damage in the form of scarring. Itโs best to seek help from a healthcare provider early so they can determine the best treatment option(s) for you.
Who does acne affect?
Acne usually affects everyone at some point in their lifetime. Itโs most common among teenagers and young adults undergoing hormonal changes, but acne can also occur during adulthood. Adult acne is more common among women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB). You may be more at risk of developing acne if you have a family history of acne (genetics).
How common is acne?
If you have acne, know that youโre not alone. Acne is the most common skin condition that people experience. An estimated 80% of people ages 11 to 30 will have at least a mild form of acne.
Where on my body will I have acne?
The most common places where you might have acne are on your:
Face.
Forehead.
Chest.
Shoulders.
Upper back.
Oil glands exist all over your body. The common locations of acne are where oil glands exist the most.
Symptoms and Causes
What are the symptoms of acne?
Symptoms of acne on your skin include:
Pimples (pustules): Pus-filled bumps (papules).
Papules: Small, discolored bumps, often red to purple or darker than your natural skin tone.
Blackheads: Plugged pores with a black top.
Whiteheads: Plugged pores with a white top.
Nodules: Large lumps under your skin that are painful.
Cysts: Painful fluid-filled (pus) lumps under your skin.
Acne can be mild and cause a few occasional pimples or it can be moderate and cause inflammatory papules. Severe acne causes nodules and cysts.
What causes acne?
Clogged hair follicles or pores cause acne. Your hair follicles are small tubes that hold a strand of your hair. There are several glands that empty into your hair follicles. When too much material is inside your hair follicle, a clog occurs. Your pores can clog with:
Sebum: An oily substance that provides a protective barrier for your skin.
Bacteria: Small amounts of bacteria naturally live on your skin. If you have too much bacteria, it can clog your pores.
Dead skin cells: Your skin cells shed often to make room for more cells to grow. When your skin releases dead skin cells, they can get stuck in your hair follicles.
When your pores clog, substances plug up your hair follicle, creating a pimple. This triggers inflammation, which you feel as pain and swelling. You can also see inflammation through skin discoloration like redness around a pimple.
Triggers of acne
Certain things in your environment contribute to acne or they can make an acne breakout worse, including:
Wearing tight-fitting clothing and headgear, like hats and sports helmets.
Air pollution and certain weather conditions, especially high humidity.
Using oily or greasy personal care products, like heavy lotions and creams, or working in an area where you routinely come in contact with grease, such as working at a restaurant with frying oil.
Stress, which increases the hormone cortisol.
A side effect of a medication.
Picking at your acne.
