Acne causes are many and varied, but take heart as there are many good acne treatments available. Acne or (acne vulgaris) is one of the commonest skin ailments which is mainly seen in teenagers but can affect individuals of any age. It is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by papular skin eruptions commonly seen on face, back, neck and shoulders. Other common symptoms of acne include blackheads, white heads, pustules, nodules, scarring, redness and irritation. It is caused due to the clogging of skin pores. Although it is not a serious life threatening condition, severe acne can leave permanent scars, which can be upsetting for people who suffer from this disorder. Acne is related to sebaceous glands which produce more oil resulting in the blockage of tiny holes in the skin’s surface with dirt and bacteria. Three major factors that contribute to acne development are:

1. Overactive sebaceous glands: The major cause of acne development are overactive sebum glands which produce more sebum than is necessary. This extra oil clogs the sebaceous duct and results in the blockage of the skin pore.

2. Abnormal shedding of cells: Acne prone skin produces more dead skin cells, which are not effectively shed and instead they accumulate inside the follicle forming a comedone.

3. Proliferation of bacteria: P. acne bacteria is commonly found in most skin. In people who have acne prone skin, the normal growth of P.acne bacteria is increased due to conducive conditions such as dead cells and oil, warm and anaerobic environment. Bacteria thrive in the humid clogged pore and digest the oil trapped within the pore, releasing fatty acid waste. This causes irritation of the pore resulting in redness and inflammation.

Some of the factors that trigger acne outbursts are:

A family history of acne, medication such as steroids and birth control pills, pregnancy, stress, use of strong shampoos, lotions and make-up and the menstrual cycle.