In order to get rid of acne, you must first understand what acne is and what causes acne.

A very common question that both teenagers and adults have, is “What is acne?“  Simply put, follicles, also known as pores, can sometimes get blocked.  Acne is a skin condition that occurs when oil and dead skin cells begin to clog up your pores.  Sebum (oil) which drains to the skin surface gets blocked.  This blockage allows bacteria to grow and various forms of acne begin.

The most common form of acne is known as Acne Vulgaris, meaning common acne.  Acne is the term for plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, zits, and even deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and even the upper arms.  Many teenagers get this type of acne.   When you only have a few pimples or red spots, it is considered a mild case of acne.  However, some people experience severe acne where hundreds of pimples cover areas such as face, neck, chest, and their backs.  Some of the most severe cases manifest themselves as larger, red painful lumps known as cysts.

Normal Hair Follicle

Both whiteheads and blackheads start out as a microcomedone. Bacteria is beginning to block the pores.

Most young adults experience acne during their adolescent years in their teens.  Acne, however, is not limited to only young adults.  Many adults can develop acne as well, especially adult women during the days before their menstrual period.

Acne is a very emotional issue for some people.  Teenagers often have the hardest times since their bodies are going through various physical and emotional changes.  How to get rid of acne just adds yet another problem to deal with.

There is good news though.  With today’s medicine, there are many good acne treatments that can be prescribed to help get your acne under control.  Our advice to you is to see your doctor and about the various acne treatments available for the type of acne you have.

Who Gets Acne?

If you have acne, you are not alone!  Acne affects about 85-100% of people at some point in their lives.  Most people experience acne during puberty and it can last throughout their adolescence years and into young adulthood.

For some, acne can persist well into their 30’s and beyond.  Statistics show that 5% of people over 45 still have acne.  Ethnicity does not matter.  People of all ethnic backgrounds can get acne.

What Causes Acne?

It is not fully known why some people get acne while others do not.  No one is exactly sure what causes acne but many agree that hormonal changes, such as those encountered during teenage years and pregnancy, probably play a significant role.

You have probably also heard of some myths about what causes acne. For instance, you’ve probably heard that chocolate and greasy fast foods cause acne. However, there is really little evidence that these types of foods have any real effect on acne in the majority of people.

Acne is usually not caused by one factor, like the foods that you eat or how often you wash your face, but by a combination of factors at work beneath the surface of your skin.

Learning how to get rid of acne takes patience.  There are many alternatives out there.  From prescription medicines to natural holistic acne cures, all have their strengths and their weaknesses.  Please take the time to learn how to get rid of acne properly.

Diagrams courtesy of: National Institute of Health