Acne (or Pimples): Causes, Risk Factors, Self-Help Advise and Treatment

Acne (also called 'pimples', 'spots' or 'zits') is a common condition, particularly in teenagers. It can also occasionally affect middle-aged people and babies. It often causes a lot of worry and distress but can usually be cleared up, or at least improved a lot, with the right treatment. The treatment can take about a month to work and you may need to continue it for a while, even after the spots have cleared.

In this article:
What is acne and who gets it?
What causes acne?
What makes acne worse?
Some myths and wrongly held beliefs about acne
Skincare for people with acne

Synonyms: pimples, pustule, blemish, comedo, comedones, blackheads, boil, whiteheads, spots, pockmark, zits

What is acne and who gets it?

Acne is a common skin condition that causes black, white or red spots, usually on the face. It can also affect the back and the top of the chest.

Most people with acne are aged between 12 and 25 years but some older people are affected. Boys are more commonly affected than girls. Acne usually affects the face but may also affect the back, neck and chest.

About 8 in 10 teenagers develop some degree of acne. Often it is mild. However, it is estimated that about 3 in 10 teenagers have severe acne bad enough to need treatment to prevent scarring. Untreated acne usually lasts about 4-5 years before settling by itself.

The picture below shows typical, mild, acne on the forehead that almost all teenagers will get at some point. This usually fades with time, or responds well to a simple cream like benzoyl peroxide (see below for treatments).

Forehead acne (mild) in an 18 year old boy during puberty
[credit: Roshu Bangal (own work) via Wikimedia Commons]

What causes acne?

The picture below shows a tiny hair follicle and a tiny sweat pore (a 'pore' is just a tiny hole in the skin). The left half of the picture shows a normal hair follicle and pore: they are open, unblocked and working properly. At the bottom of the shaft of hair you can see a small circle called a 'sebaceous gland' which makes the usual oil that we all have on our skin. The right half of the picture shows what happens if the hair follicle becomes blocked: the oil can't come out on to the skin and so the bottom section of the hair bulges up, full of oil (or what is technically called 'sebum').

Diagram showing normal skin and acne skin (credit: patient.info)

This bulge under the skin causes a spot (or 'zit'). Tiny bugs, or bacteria, can then grow inside the blocked hair follicle and make the spot go red and sore.

So the two things that cause acne (or pimples) are:
a) A blocked pore or hair follicle; and
b) Infection at the bottom of the blockage.

You can understand now that to successfully treat this, the treatments for acne (or pimples) must aim to:
a) Unblock the pores or hair follicles on your skin; and
b) Kill any infection inside.

The photo below shows blackheads on someone's face and nose. Blackheads are a blocked pore, with dead skin cells gathered up inside. Despite popular belief, the black bit is not actually dirt: it's just dead skin cells gathered up, made to look dark by the pigment in skin, called melanin.

Blackheads on the face and nose of a boy with pimple.
Acne blackheads are pockets of dead skin and melanin on the skin.

Credit: BruceBlaus via Wikimedia Commons

Can anything else cause acne?

The description above is the cause of almost all cases of acne. Rarely, certain diseases in girls and women may cause acne or make acne worse. For example, polycystic ovary syndrome and conditions that cause excess male hormone to be made in the ovary or adrenal gland. These conditions cause other symptoms in addition to acne, such as thinning of scalp hair, excess hair growth (hirsutism) of facial or body hair, and other problems. Being exposed to chemicals in the workplace, particularly to things called halogenated hydrocarbons, can cause acne.

Also see the separate article, Polycystic Ovary syndrome: Symptoms, Causes, Complications and Treatments.

What makes acne worse?

If you think about the blocking up of pores causing spots, you can appreciate that putting on a lot of make-up or foundation can make acne worse. A lot of girls and young women try to cover up their acne with make-up, which is totally understandable. However try to have some make-up free days to let your skin breathe. If you do need to use make-up, try to use one with a pH that is closest to the skin.

Touching your skin or sitting with your hands over your cheeks or chin will spread germs from your fingers on to your face. Try not to touch your face at all, other than for putting on medication.

Picking and squeezing the acne spots on your skin may cause further inflammation and scarring.

Sweating heavily or humid conditions may make acne worse. For example, doing regular hot work in kitchens. The extra sweat possibly contributes to blocking pores.

Spots may develop under tight clothes. For example, under headbands, tight bra straps and tight collars. This may be due to increased sweating and friction under tight clothing.

Some medicines can make acne worse. For example, phenytoin (which some people take for epilepsy) and steroid creams and ointments that are used for eczema. Do not stop a prescribed medicine if you suspect it is making your acne worse but tell your doctor. An alternative medication may be an option.

Some contraceptive pills make acne worse; others can make it better. (Generally the progestogen-only contraceptives can make acne worse: like the mini-pill or the contraceptive injection or depot in the arm).

Anabolic steroids (which some bodybuilders take illegally) can make acne worse.

Some myths and wrongly held beliefs about acne

Acne is not caused by poor hygiene. In fact, excessive washing may make it worse.

Stress does not cause acne, although if you have acne then stress can make it worse.

Acne is not just a simple skin infection. The cause is a complex interaction of changing hormones, sebum, overgrowth of normally harmless germs (bacteria) and inflammation. You cannot catch acne - it is not passed on through touching.

Acne cannot be cured by drinking lots of water.

There is no evidence to say that sunbathing or sunbeds will help to clear acne.

Some people believe that acne cannot be helped by medical treatment. This is not true. Treatments usually work well if used correctly.

It used to be thought that diets high in sugar and milk products made acne worse but research has failed to find evidence to support this.

Skincare for people with acne

Do not wash more than normal. Twice a day is normal for most people. Lukewarm water alone is usually enough. Some doctors prescribe medicated facial washes, but be careful about using strong soap you may have bought over the counter. (Very hot or cold water may worsen acne.) Do not scrub hard when washing acne-affected skin. Do not use abrasive soaps, cleansers containing granules, astringents, or exfoliating agents. Excess washing and scrubbing may cause more inflammation and possibly make acne worse.

Allow your skin to air dry, as towels can sometimes harbour germs (bacteria).

Antiseptic washes may be beneficial.

You cannot clean off blackheads. The black tip of a blackhead is actually skin pigment (melanin) and cannot be removed by cleaning or scrubbing.

Some topical acne treatments (also see the separate article, Acne Treatments) may dry the skin. If this occurs, use a fragrance-free, water-based moisturising cream. Do not use ointments or oil-rich creams, as these may clog the holes of the skin (pores).

Acne Treatments »