Acne Information >> What Causes Acne?
Acne is caused by the overactivity of the sebaceous glands that secrete oily substances onto the skin.
The sebaceous glands of people with acne are especially sensitive to normal blood levels of a hormone called testosterone, found naturally in both men and women.
Testosterone in people prone to acne triggers the sebaceous glands to produce an excess of sebum. At the same time, the dead skin cells lining the openings of the hair follicles (the tubes that hold the hair) are not shed properly and clog up the follicles.
These two effects combined cause a build-up of oil in the hair follicles. This causes blackheads and whiteheads to form. This is typically known as "non-inflammatory acne," and it can be mild to moderate in severity.
There are also several "inflammatory" types of acne, which is caused when the bacteria that causes acne (P. acnes) invades the clogged pore. The resulting pimple is your body's anti-inflammatory response to the invader. The "mild-to-moderate" inflammatory acne types are pustules and papules, commonly known as, well, zits or pimples. They may have a white head (that's a pustule) or you might typically describe them as those "under the skin pimples" that never want to pop.
Both these conditions can usually be treated with over the counter remedies; however, if there are a large quantity of inflammatory blemishes, you may want to see a dermatologist for a prescription strength medication.
You will notice, I hope, that acne is not caused by diet, by not washing your face, or by any of the other false reasons you might often hear. To learn about these and other acne myths, visit our acne myths page.