Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that affects people of all ages. Doctors describe acne as an infection of the ‘pilosebaceous unit”, which consists of the sebaceous gland – or pore that is connected to the hair follicle. These units are the largest and most numerous on the face, upper back, and chest areas where acne tends to occur. Acne commonly occurs during puberty due to the increased production of androgen hormones – which stimulate the sebaceous gland, causing an excessive amount of oil. Cysts and nodules may develop as well as scarring, which can be very difficult to get rid of.
An acne blemish is caused when the sebaceous gland overproduces oil, which causes cells to stick to the pore and block the oil inside the follicle. The skin then grows over the pore, which causes a buildup of oil under the skin, resulting in a bump under the skin. If air gets under the skin, it will oxidize the oil, turning it black and resulting in a blackhead.
There are some external factors that play a role in acne blemishes, such as:
