Acne is something that most people will encounter at some point in their lives in some form or another. Acne is a common inflammatory skin disease, medically known as Acne vulgaris which is characterized by pimples on the face, chest, and back. While acne can arise at any age, it usually begins at puberty and worsens during adolescence. It occurs when the pores of the skin become clogged with oil, dead skin cells, and/or bacteria.

Under normal conditions the sebaceous glands release oil that comes up through the pores onto the skin surface. This release keeps the skin moist and lubricated for protection from the environment. However when there is excess oil secretion bacteria act upon it to form substances that cause inflammation and also cause increased production of dead cells which clog the pores and results in a pimple. If the pore walls burst under the skin, white blood cells move in around the pores causing inflammation which heals with scar formation on the face. If treatment of acne is delayed or ignored, it can cause scars, and pockmarks that become permanent and disfiguring.

Acne may sometimes be an indication of other problems in your body like congenital adrenal hyperplasia, polycystic ovarian disease etc and appropriate work up and treatment of the underlying condition will resolve acne.

A facial cream, diet, herbal treatment, alone or in combination may not be able to clear acne because acne is multi-factorial in origin and may have other underlying disorders associated with it so prolonged bouts of acne needs to be consulted with a Dermatologist .