Acne / Breakouts - Overview
Acne can occur on the face, neck, chest, shoulders and upper back. Acne (acne vulgaris) is a chronic condition that affects all ages, every ethnicity and both sexes. Though not curable, it is highly manageable and controllable.
How does it happen? What causes acne?
When skin is functioning correctly, the sebaceous glands produce oil that empties onto the skin's surface. At the same time, dead skin cells are shed at a normal rate as newer, fresher cells rise to the surface. Sometimes, these dead cells shed too fast, clump together and clog the pore. This is called non-inflammatory acne. If this plug stays below the skin's surface, it is called a "closed comedone" or whitehead. If the plug reaches the skin's surface and is exposed to air, an "open comedone" or blackhead forms. Contrary to popular belief, the black color is not caused by dirt but rather is due to a process of oxidation.
Besides these non-inflammatory blemishes, you may also have larger, more inflamed breakouts. Inflammatory acne starts when the combination of excess skin cells and oil cause pore-aggravating bacteria to develop. This leads to infected pustules, pimples, redness and overall irritation.
