What is Acne

Acne is a condition in which the pores of the skin become clogged and inflamed. These clogged pores can result in blackheads or pimples. Acne tends to occur in teenagers, but can also occur in adults. Acne starts in the skin's sebaceous glands, which secrete an oily substance called sebum.

The sebum normally travels from the sebaceous gland to the skin's surface via a tiny hair follicle. But with acne, the sebum becomes trapped, sometimes mixing with dead skin cells and bacteria, causing a clogged pore called a comedo. There are several over-the-counter and prescription medications for acne. Some are applied directly to the skin others are taken by mouth and others are injected into the acne cysts or pustules.

Reference for Acne Article

National Institutes of Health

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