What is acne?

There's a reason it's called "common acne" - nearly everyone suffers from outbreaks of spots at some point in life.

It starts when greasy secretions from the skin's sebaceous glands plug the tiny openings for hair follicles (plugged pores). If the openings are large, the clogs take the form of blackheads: small, flat spots with centres darkened by exposure to air. If the openings stay small, the clogs take the form of whiteheads: small, closed, flesh-coloured bumps. Both types of plugged pores can develop into swollen, tender inflammations or deeper lumps or nodules. Cysts associated with severe cases of acne (cystic acne) are firm swellings below the skin's surface that become inflamed and sometimes infected.