What is Acne?
Acne is the most common skin disorder seen in dermatology offices across the US. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne affects about 85% of teenagers. While acne is usually thought of as a skin problem for teenagers, it is estimated that 15% of adults are still affected by acne into their 30’s and 40’s. So what causes someone to get acne and what kinds of acne treatments are available? (Hint: there are lots of acne treatments available and most are covered by insurance).
What causes acne?
Acne occurs when the sebaceous glands in your skin become clogged. This happens when the oil (sebum) produced in the sebaceous glands moves up the hair follicles and mixes with dead skin cells. When the hair follicles become clogged, bacteria on the skin grows inside the follicles, leading to inflammation, pimples, and breakouts. Your face, neck, chest, upper arms, and upper back are very susceptible to acne where there is a large concentration of sebaceous glands.