How does acne work?

Four out of five people between the ages of twelve and twenty-five haveacne, making it the most commonly diagnosed skin condition. In spite of its prevalence, there are a lot of misconceptions about how acne works and about how to treat it.

See moregetting beautiful skin pictures．

Acne forms inside a person'spores．A pore is an opening in the skin through which a very fine hair grows.Sebaceous glandsconnected to the pores produce a substance calledsebum, which lubricates the hair and the skin.

Acne occurs when several things happen inside the pore. First, the sebaceous glands produce too much oil. Then, as the pore's lining naturally renews itself, it sheds deadcells．这些细胞,t细胞表面he skin -- combine with sebum to create a plug. The result is an enlarged, blocked pore called acomedo．

If the plug stays beneath the surface of the skin, it causes a whitehead. If it reaches the surface of the skin, it causes a blackhead. If the walls of the pore break down, the result is a pimple, also called apustule．

Plugged pores create a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which causes pain, inflammation and swelling. The bacteria and oil can also create deep, painful areas calledcysts, which can lead to scarring.

Several factors can lead to acne, including:

Factors that do not lead to acne include:

Effective acne treatment focuses on slowing down the skin's production of oil, speeding up cellular renewal and fighting bacteria. People with acne-prone skin should clean their skin gently, without scrubbing, using mild cleansers. They may also benefit from:

The National Library of Medicinehas a collection of articles on acne and acne treatment.

Here are some interesting links: