What does Acne Mean?

Acne is a common skin condition that occurs mostly in people between their teenage years and 20s. It is caused due to the excessive production of oil (sebum) by the oil glands(that is the pilosebaceous glands) present in skin. The oil surfaces on the skin from the follicles and helps to keep the skin well lubricated. At times the follicles, often called pores, get blocked. The trapped sebum results in what we know as pimples, blackheads, whiteheads or cysts on the surface of skin.

• Pimples: The trapped sebum can get infected and form a small skin swelling that sometimes contains pus.
• Blackheads: These are dark formations caused due to accumulation of a mixture of oil and cells in the blocked pore.Melanin pigment in the cells oxidises and gives acne brown/black color.
• Whiteheads: These are small flesh-or white-colored bumps formed due to trapped sebum in the blocked pore.
• Cysts: Some pimples (acne) can develop a severe inflammatory reaction which results in very large pus filled lesions.

Acne is most common in areas of the skin that contain the largest number of oil glands like the face, forehead, chest, shoulders, and back. Although acne occurs most commonly in teenage years and people in their 20s it can also occur in children (before teenage) and older adults as well.

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