What Causes Acne

Author: Sara Kitch

2007-12-30 Word Count: 436 Category: Acne

Acne occurs when sebaceous glands within the hair follicles (pores) of the skin become clogged, because emission happens faster than the oil and skin cells can evacuate the follicle. The plug causes the follicle to swell (causing whiteheads), and the top of the plug may darken (causing blackheads). If the plug causes the wall of the follicle to break, the oil, dead skin cells, and microorganisms found commonly on the surface of the skin can penetrate the skin and create small infected areas called pustules (also known as pimples or "zits").
The actual pimple is commonly the result of microbes invading an open skin pore causing the body to respond with millions of leukocytes to destroy the invaders. As the leukocytes fight and die they create an inflamed area that turns red (pimple) which over time turns into an even greater mass of dead cells that can create a pus pocket (white head).
Of course open pores can also be blocked with dried oils, external matter or just facial dirt that form what is commonly known as a black head. Salt from sweat is another cause of most facial break outs when it dries and blocks pores.
Cysts occur when the infection reaches the deeper layers of the skin. A sebaceous cyst appears when the sebaceous gland continues producing oil. Instead of rupturing the follicle wall, the follicle continues to enlarge and form a soft, pliable lump (called a cyst) beneath the skin. The cyst is commonly not painful or discolored unless it becomes infected.
Acne Scar Causes
Acne scars occur when spots become inflamed or don't heal properly. While scarring for some people seems to depend on hereditary factors or skin color, precautions can be taken to avoid scars and treatments are available to greatly reduce scarred skin's appearance.
In the simple terms, scars are the visible reminders of damage and tissue healing. In the case of acne, the damage is caused by the body's inflammatory response to sebum, microbes and dead cells in the clogged sebaceous follicle. Two kinds of true scars exist:
(1) Depressed areas like in ice-pick scars, and
(2) Raised thickened tissue like in keloids.
When a lesion happens the body sends in the 'troops' to heal the damage. However, when their job is done they may leave behind a chaos in the form of fibrous scar tissue, or eroded tissue. White blood cells and inflammatory molecules may stay at the site of an active acne lesion for days or even weeks. For those who are susceptible to scarring the outcome can be an acne scar.

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