Acne is a common condition affecting about 17 million Americans. Acne occurs most often among teenagers nearly 4 out of every 5 teens have acne. The condition usually first appears between the ages of 10 and 13. In most cases, acne lasts for about 5 to 10 years, then goes away on its own. However, some adults in their 20s, 30s, and even 40s get acne.
Acne occurs when pores in the skin become clogged with a mixture of oil and dead skin cells.
Normally, this oil travels up through the pore and out onto the surface of your skin. However, if too much oil is produced, it can cause the cells in the pore lining to make a plug at the skin s surface. Germs can grow below the plug, causing redness, swelling, and pimples. Blackheads form when the plug goes through a chemical process they are not caused by dirt. Certain hormones produced by your body can make the skin glands more active, causing them to put out more oil.