Acne, also known as acne vulgaris, is a long-term skin condition that develops when dead skin cells and oil from the skin clog hair follicles.
Typical features of the condition include blackheads or whiteheads, pimples, oily skin, and possible scarring.
It primarily affects skin with a relatively high number of oil glands, including the face, upper part of the chest, and back. The resulting appearance can lead to lack of confidence, anxiety, reduced self-esteem, and, in extreme cases, depression.
Susceptibility to acne is primarily genetic in 80% of cases.
The roles of diet and cigarette smoking in the condition are unclear, and neither cleanliness nor exposure to sunlight are associated with acne. In both sexes, hormones called androgens appear to be part of the underlying mechanism, by causing increased production of sebum.
Another common factor is the excessive growth of the bacterium Cutibacterium acnes, which is present on the skin.
