What Causes Acne?
Acne is a condition in which the skin breaks out in pustules, whiteheads, blackheads, cysts or nodules. In most cases, people will experience these lesions during their teenage years because of hormonal changes, according to KidsHealth.org. It is not uncommon, however, for acne to continue through adulthood.
Acne can be caused by environmental or hereditary factors, or can be the side effect of taking certain medications or using cosmetics, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Most people will experience it at some point in their lives, whether it's in the form of mild blackheads across the nose or painful cysts on the face. The most common form of acne is known as acne vulgaris, which appears on the face, neck, chest, shoulders and back. It is caused by an excessive production of sebum in the sebaceous glands.
Sebum Production
Acne lesions arise from hair follicles in the skin. These follicles, or pores, house the oil (sebum) that is produced by the sebaceous glands. This is the natural oil that the skin uses to keep itself hydrated and moisturized.
In some people, the sebaceous glands produce more sebum than is necessary to maintain the elasticity and flexibility of skin. This overproduction occurs most often when the body undergoes hormonal changes---increased hormones stimulate the production of sebum. The excess sebum can clog the pores, as can dead skin cells, causing bacteria to become trapped in the follicle where it begins to multiply. This creates an environment for acne lesion formation.
Lesion Formation
If the plugged follicle has a tiny opening to the surface of the skin, a pus-filled bump called a whitehead, or closed comedone, will arise. Conversely, if a pore becomes clogged but has a wide opening to skin's surface, a blackhead, or open comedone. will form.
Pustules, more commonly called pimples, occur when the internal walls of a pore begin to open up, allowing white blood cells, dead skin cells and bacteria to enter the clogged pore, according to the AAD. These can develop into deeper, more swollen bumps under the skin that ooze pus.
When pore blockages are especially deep, acne cysts develop. They can become infected and develop into large, painful nodules. This kind of acne can cause serious scarring and should be treated by a dermatologist.
