All You Want to Know About Acne

Your skin has tiny holes called pores that can become blocked by oil, bacteria, dead skin cells, and dirt. When this occurs, you may develop a pimple, sometimes also called a zit or blemish.

If you get pimples often, especially several at once repeatedly, you may have acne. In other words, acne is the skin condition that causes pimples.

Acne is very common. In fact, research estimates that 9.4 percent of people worldwide have acne. In the United States, acne is the most common skin condition, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

While acne doesn’t pose a serious risk to your overall health, it can still be painful, particularly if you have severe acne. Over time, acne might also cause scarring.

There’s no denying that acne can contribute to emotional distress. Acne and acne scars on your face and other visible body locations can affect self-esteem and self-confidence, and they can even contribute to feelings of anxiety or depression.

If you live with acne, know that it’s a common condition.

Keep in mind, too, that acne is very treatable. A number of effective treatments exist, so you have options for reducing the number of pimples you get and minimizing your chances of scarring.

What are the different types of acne?

If you have acne, you might notice a mix of pimple types.

Whiteheads and blackheads, both also referred to as comedones, are the most common acne lesions.

• Blackheads, or open comedones, open at the surface of your skin. Oxygen in the air (not dirt) gives the top of these pimples their darker appearance.
• Whiteheads, or closed comedones, form as raised bumps under the surface of your skin. They remain flesh-colored.

Inflammatory lesions, which are more likely to cause scarring of your skin, include:

• Papules. These small, red, raised bumps are caused by inflamed or infected hair follicles.
• Pustules. These small red pimples have pus at their tips.
• Nodules. These solid, often painful lumps develop beneath the surface of your skin.
• Cysts. These large lumps beneath your skin contain pus and are usually painful.

Acne can be found almost anywhere on your body, but you’ll most commonly notice breakouts on your:

• face and neck
• back
• shoulders
• chest

Pimples can give your skin a rough, uneven texture.

With acne, you might also experience:

• skin discoloration, including dark patches or spots (hyperpigmentation) and redness
• swelling and inflammation
• pain and tenderness when touched or not

Acne breakouts can also cause scarring or discoloration on your skin.

Popping pimples can raise your chances of scarring, so avoid squeezing — no matter how tempting it feels to get rid of the pimple immediately — and try these tips.

Acne occurs when the pores of your skin become blocked with oil, dead skin, or bacteria.

Each pore of your skin opens to a follicle. The follicle is made up of a hair and a sebaceous (oil) gland.

The oil gland releases sebum (oil), which travels up the hair, out of the pore, and onto your skin. Sebum helps keeps your skin lubricated and soft.

One or more mishaps in this lubrication process can contribute to acne.

Acne might occur, for example, when:

• your follicles produce too much oil
• dead skin cells accumulate in your pores
• bacteria build up in your pores

Any of these concerns can lead to pimples, which develop when bacteria grow in a clogged pore and the oil can’t escape.

Experts still don’t know exactly why some people experience acne and others don’t.

That said, they do recognize a number of risk factors can contribute to or worsen acne, including:

• hormonal changes due to pregnancy or puberty
• polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and other endocrine conditions
• cigarette smoking
• poor sleep
• stress
• cleansers, creams, moisturizers, and other beauty products with high oil content
• certain medications, including lithium, some types of hormonal birth control, anticonvulsants, and steroids
• a family history of acne

You have the highest risk of developing acne during puberty. During this time, your body undergoes many hormonal changes. These changes can trigger oil production, leading to an increased risk of acne. Hormonal acne related to puberty usually improves when you reach adulthood, and your breakouts may even stop completely.

According to a 2021 review, certain foods or diets may have an effect on acne:

• Low glycemic index diet. Cutting back on foods with a high glycemic index, such as refined carbs and added sugars, could help reduce acne lesions.
• Milk products. Consuming certain milk products, like milk and ice cream, seems to worsen acne for some people. However, cheese, as well as nonmilk dairy products, don’t seem to worsen acne.
• Fat and fatty acids. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may help reduce acne breakouts.
• Vegan and vegetarian diets. While vegan and vegetarian diets can offer plenty of health benefits, little evidence supports them specifically for the treatment of acne.
• Probiotics. While probiotics — found in yogurt, other fermented foods, and supplements — could help improve acne, experts have yet to find conclusive support for probiotics as an acne treatment.

If you suspect you have acne, a good next step involves getting a diagnosis from a board-certified dermatologist.

A dermatologist can make a diagnosis by examining your skin. They can help identify the types of lesions and their severity to develop a treatment plan that works for you.