What causes acne? ProDerm’s guide to acne

Acne is predominantly a genetic condition where the grease glands around hair follicles are more prone to inflammation and reactivity secondary to hormones or bacterial involvement.

It usually presents as a small white pustules and blackheads (grease glands) but sometimes there is a lot of inflammation, cyst formation or scarring.

It tends to occur in hair bearing areas, particularly face chest and back, but can also occur as folliculitis on the scalp, armpit legs or pubic region

It affects men and women, but women fractionally more often and can occur at any age of life but often around teenage years when hormones are more active.

It is extremely common affecting almost everybody at some stage of their life and may very just from one or two small pimples right the way through to severe scarring disease.

Lifestyle factors such as stress, sugary or greasy foods may make a contribution to acne, but are not the sole driving factor behind it and one cannot often cure acne simply by changing diet

Acne can be treated, however, so why not speak to a dermatologist.