The Acne Medications

Acne is an inflammatory condition of small patches of skin, especially in the face, neck and back. It is caused when hair follicles in the skin become blocked. No one knows precisely why these blockages occur, nor why they are more severe in some people than others, even in different members of the same family.

It is not known why acne commonly first occurs after puberty, although the sebaceous glands grow considerably at this time, which could be a factor. The oil produced by hair follicles, called sebum, is normally beneficial because it helps prevent skin from drying and limits skin infections. But when sebum can not drain, it builds up and actually becomes a culture medium for bacteria. As grains (papules and pustel) develop, the skin can become inflamed. This inflammation may last for a while even after breaking a pimple or cure (not to squeeze pimples, because squeezing can lead to more severe skin infections). In severe cases, scarring may take place, caused by imperfections in the inflammatory response to infection. No one knows why some people are more susceptible to acne scarring than others. Fortunately, most acne spots and inflammation heal over time, but the healing process can take months.