What is Acne?

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions affecting people of all ages. It affects people in their teens, 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond.

 

Acne is caused by the over-production of androgens, hormons that stimulate the sebaceous glands causing them to enlarge and increase production of sebum. This increase in oil production, coupled with dead skin cells results in blockages in the hair follice and sebaceous glands.
The most common sites of acne are the face, chest, shoulders, and back since these are the parts of the body where the most sebaceous follicles are found. Untreated acne can cause permanent scarring.

There are many resources on the web to find out more about acne, including www.acne.org/whatisacne.html