Acne is a common skin condition, so common in fact that the American Academy of Dermatology estimates that 40 million to 50 million Americans deal with acne every year. Acne can cause noticeable painful and embarrassing lesions to develop on the skin, and in many cases may even be recurring. There are several factors that contribute to acne formation.
Sebum Oil
Your skin contains small glands called sebaceous glands. The sebaceous glands produce an oil called sebum that helps the skin retain moisture. However, when these glands produce too much sebum, the excess oil can combine with other substances in the follicles of the skin to create soft plugs called comedones, more commonly known as acne whiteheads or blackheads.
Skin Cells
Dead skin cells combine with excess sebum to create the beginnings of acne. Your skin is constantly shedding old layers of skin cells from the body, including inside the follicles. As excess skin cells are present, the combination with sebum creates the structure to the comedone.
Bacteria
Bacteria also plays a role in acne formation, especially in inflammatory acne, such as acne papules and pustules. One of the most recognized acne-related bacterias is Propionibacterium acnes, or P. acnes. This bacteria can get trapped behind the formed acne plug, which provides the perfect environment in which bacteria thrives, causing the body to react by sending white blood cells to the area.
Inflammation
As white blood cells congregate around the bacteria-infected acne comedone, inflammation develops, causing mild to moderate acne to progress into more serious cases, such as acne cysts and nodules. As inflammation increases, pressure builds beneath the skin. If this pressure is allowed to continue without release or intervention, the acne can burst, causing severe and many times noticeable permanent acne scar tissue.
