What is acne?

  Tip: Get plenty of rest and
                drink 8 glasses of
                water each day.
                Water helps in cleaning
                and hydrating the skin
                and maintaining overall
                health.

Simply, acne is the condition that your skin pores (hair follicles) get clogged with bacteria, skin cells and oil.

The oil is called sebum. The glands that make sebum are called sebaceous glands. Sebum is the oil that lubricates the hair and skin.

When hair follicles (pores) get clogged several conditions may occur which lead to creation of small or larger inflated lumps on the skin.

Four factors are mentioned to be involved in the development of acne.

• Increased production of oil simulated by androgenic (male sex ) hormones
• Obstruction of the opening of the follicle caused by increased production of scales ( keratin)
• Infection by a bacterium ( propionibacterium acnes )
• Rupture (breakage of the follicle leading to inflammation.

Acne is also called pimple or zit.

  Tip: The skin produces its greatest volume of sebum
                and oil at approximately 1 to 2 o'clock in the
                afternoon and its least volume in the middle of
                the night.

• Types of acne