What Causes Acne?

Acne begins to form about 14-21 days before you see the blemish surface. It happens within the constant process of your skin shedding its old cells and producing new skin. The surface of your skin, called the epidermis, is actually made up of dead skin cells. As they shed, through the process of mixing with your bodies natural oils and “sloughing off”, new skin is produced. If the dead skin cells do not shed evenly they become sticky and clump together. These clumped cells can get caught in your sebaceous hair follicles, the little holes in the skin known as pores. The clog, called the comedo, traps the oil and bacteria that has been forming deep within the sebaceous hair follicles. This oil, which is known as sebum is actually originally produced to help keep the skin moist, pliable and healthy. However, when the follicle gets clogged and you continue to produce more oil, the pore begins to swell. In order to get rid of the excess oil and onset of bacteria, your body sends over white blood cells. These extra cells, although helpful in the fight against the oil and bacteria, contribute to further swelling or inflammation of the skin. The clogged, swollen pore with excess sebum is known as a pimple.