What Is Acne?

Acne, which is formally called acne vulgaris, is the most common skin condition in the world. In fact, the word “vulgaris” is Latin for “common”! It is estimated that 85–90% of all adolescents (teenagers) experience acne at some point, so chances are almost everyone you know has dealt with acne in one form or another. Acne is a disease of the pilosebaceous unit, which is a hair follicle surrounded by an oil-producing (sebaceous) gland.

As you might have noticed on yourself, acne can show up on the skin in a few different forms (Figure 1). One way acne shows up is as comedones, small bumps that happen when the hair follicle gets clogged with oil, dead skin cells, or bacteria. Comedones can either be open, which are commonly called blackheads, or closed, which are known as whiteheads. Blackheads appear black because, when the clogged pore becomes open to air, the clog reacts with oxygen and darkens. Blackheads and whiteheads tend to be fairly painless! If the comedones move deeper into the skin and become inflamed, acne can present on the skin as papules or pustules. Both are usually red and painful but the difference between them is that pustules will have a pus-filled tip that appears white or yellow on the skins surface, whereas papules will not have this visible pus-filled tip. Cells of the immune system collect in the hair follicle and form pus, which is the yellow-white substance that can come out of papules and pustules if popped. Often, people with acne have a mix of these types of blemishes [1].

Other people may have what is called cystic acne, which is the most severe type of acne. Cystic acne occurs when inflammation becomes so severe that it extends beyond the pilosebaceous unit and moves deeper into the skin. Because cystic acne is so deep in the skin, it can present as large red bumps rather than the typical comedones of less severe acne. These cysts contain large amounts of pus, which makes them very painful and prone to scarring.

As with many skin conditions, acne can look different on people with different skin types (Figure 2). The Fitzpatrick skin types is a system that defines the six most common skin types, based on skin color and the tendency of skin to burn when exposed to UV light from the sun. The Fitzpatrick skin types range from Type 1 (pale skin with a high tendency to burn), to Type 6 (dark skin with a lower tendency to burn) [2].

What Causes Acne Vulgaris?

What causes the pilosebaceous units to become clogged, inflamed, and form acne? There are four known factors that contribute to the development of acne in adolescents (Figure 3). The top layer of the skin, the epidermis, is made up of cells called keratinocytes. Normally, humans replace their entire epidermis every month! People with acne often have differences in skin turnover—their dead keratinocytes do not shed off like they are supposed to, and instead the keratinocytes build up and cause a keratin plug to form around the hair follicle. As adolescents go through puberty, their bodies produce higher levels of hormones, which tell the sebaceous glands surrounding the hair follicles to produce more of an oil called sebum. This combination of keratin plugs and increased sebum production can easily trap dirt and bacteria around the hair follicle, which forms comedones. A type of bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes normally lives on the skin, and these bacteria use sebum as their food source. The more sebum, the faster the bacteria can grow and divide. The increase in bacteria around the hair follicle can cause inflammation and lead to the production of pustules and papules. In summary, keratin plugs, increased sebum production, high levels of P. acnes, and inflammation are the best understood causes of acne in adolescents. There are also other components that can affect whether a person develops acne, such as genetics and diet [1, 3].

Some people might develop a specific type of acne known as hormonal acne, which is caused by the surge in hormones that occurs during the menstrual cycle. These people might find that the amount of acne they have correlates with the part of their cycle they are in. Hormonal acne can persist into adulthood and can sometimes be a symptom of underlying hormonal imbalances [1].

How Do Doctors Treat Acne?

There are many different treatments available for managing acne. Depending on how severe the acne is, treatments can range from washes and creams to oral antibiotics or vitamin A derivatives. Washes help to remove some of the sebum that builds up on the skin, which reduces the food available for P. acnes. Creams usually contain anti-inflammatory medicines, to reduce redness and swelling. Antibiotics kill acne-causing bacteria like P. acnes [1, 4]. Vitamin A derivatives, also known as retinoids, stimulate keratinocyte turnover and shedding, so that keratin plugs do not form. Retinoids can also decrease sebum production on the skin, and studies show that they may also decrease inflammation [4].

Antibiotics and retinoids are just two examples of common acne treatments, but there are many more! Dermatologists (doctors who specialize in treating skin conditions) can help their patients to figure out the best treatment plan. Even with treatment, some patients still struggle with acne into adulthood. Everyone’s skin and genetics are different and, for some people, acne can be a life-long condition. Cystic acne usually requires treatment with oral medications, so be sure to talk to your dermatologist if you think you might have this severe type of acne. No matter what treatment a doctor recommends, it is important not to pop or pick at acne because this can introduce new bacteria into the skin and cause long-term scarring! Most treatments can take a few months to fully work, so patience and consistency are necessary.

How Does Acne Impact a Person’s Life?

To summarize, acne vulgaris is a very common chronic skin condition in people of all ages, but it is especially common in adolescents. It is characterized by a variety of blemishes including open and closed comedones, and inflamed papules and pustules. Acne is caused by several factors including keratin plugs, sebum, bacteria, and inflammation, and there are many different ways to treat acne depending on the severity and individual preferences.

Acne generally appears on the face, chest, back, or shoulders—areas of the body that are easily visible. Because of this visibility, it is common for people with acne to feel insecure about their appearance. For some people, acne can cause anxiety, depression, and decreased self-esteem [5]. We should never negatively comment on someone’s skin or make them feel bad for something that is out of their control. Almost everyone will struggle with acne at some point in their lives, so we must remember to treat others with the kindness we would want to be treated with in a similar situation.

Glossary

Pilosebaceous Unit: ↑ Hair follicle with surrounding sebaceous gland.

Sebaceous: ↑ Glands present in the skin which produce an oil called sebum and release the oil onto the skin surface.

Comedones: ↑ Skin pore or hair follicle clogged with oil, dead skin cells, or bacteria.

Papules: ↑ Deep inflammatory acne lesions that appear as red bumps on the surface of skin.

Pustules: ↑ Deep inflammatory acne lesions that appear as red bumps with a yellow or white pus-filled tip.

Keratinocytes: ↑ Cells that make up the epidermis, which is the top layer of the skin.

Sebum: ↑ Oil produced by the skin that helps to maintain keratinocytes, but also serves as food for skin bacteria.

Retinoids: ↑ Vitamin A derivatives that are used to treat acne by promoting keratinocyte turnover, decreasing sebum production, and lowering inflammation.

Conflict of Interest

JR is an inventor on patents targeting CXCR3 and IL15 for the treatment of vitiligo.

The remaining author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.