Acne or Pimples - Formation explained

Acne is formed wherever the pores of the skin get blocked by sebum (produced by sebaceous glands). The sebaceous glands make an oily substance called sebum that normally empties onto the skin surface through the opening of the follicle, commonly called a pore. Cells called keratinocytes line the follicle. The hair, sebum, and keratinocytes that

fill the narrow follicle may produce a plug, which is an early sign of acne.



The plug prevents sebum from reaching the surface of the skin through a pore. The mixture of oil and cells allows bacteria that normally live on the skin to grow in the plugged follicles. These bacteria produce chemicals and enzymes and attract white blood cells that cause inflammation.



When the wall of the plugged follicle breaks down, it spills everything into the nearby skin--sebum, shed skin cells, and bacteria--leading to lesions or pimples.