why am I getting acne ?

There are three contributing factors to acne vulgaris (the medical term for pimples or cysts on your face, neck, chest and back): the overproduction of oil, the irregular shedding of dead skin cells and the buildup of bacteria.

Acne usually begins around puberty, when members of both sexes experience an increase in the production of the sex hormones called androgens. These hormones regulate the activity and size of the oil-producing sebaceous glands that reside in the pores, or hair follicles (Figure 1) of your skin. The increased production of these hormones causes the oil glands to get bigger in the areas where acne occurs.

Figure 1. Detailed structure of hair follicle

The sebaceous glands make an oily substance called sebum. Sebum travels through the hair follicles to the surface of the skin. The lining of the wall of the hair follicle sheds skin cells, which then stick together with the sebum. The follicle gets clogged, plugging up the opening in the surface of the skin. Whiteheads (Figure 3) and blackheads (Figure 4) are the result of this clogging of the pores. The sebum and cell debris together contribute to the growth of bacteria that live in your pores.

Figure 2. Normal hair follicle

Figure 3. Whitehead

Your own body will naturally attempt to dear the dogged pores by sending in certain specialized cells that invade the follicle to help clean it up. However, in the process, the wall of the follicle may weaken and rupture, emptying the contents of the follicle into the surrounding tissue. When this occurs, swelling or redness can develop around the affected follicle, resulting in the larger bumps or pimples characteristic of acne. These are known as papules and pustules (Figures 5 and 6) and can sometimes cause scarring.

Figure 5. Papule

Figure 4. Blackhead

Figure 6. Pustule

From the beginning until its disappearance, the life cycle of a pimple can take 8 weeks to run its course. And it can take even longer for the darkened spots left by some acne pimples to fade completely. The aim of acne therapy is to unclog the plugged pores and keep them clear by using effective medicines such as 101E Acne Getaway®. Sometimes antibiotics or benzoyl peroxide may be prescribed to help control the bacteria that may be growing inside your pores.