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Acne appears when sebaceous glands inside the hair follicles (pores) of the skin become plugged, because emission occurs faster than the oil and skin cells can leave the follicle. The plug causes the follicle to bulge (causing whiteheads), and the top of the plug may darken (causing blackheads). If the plug causes the wall of the follicle to break, the sebum, dead skin cells, and microbes found usually on the surface of the skin can penetrate the skin and create small infected areas known as pustules (also known as pimples or "zits").

The actual pimple is commonly the result of microbes entering an open skin pore causing the body to respond with millions of white cells to destroy the invaders. As the white cells fight and die they create an inflamed area that turns red (pimple) which over time evolves into an even greater mass of dead cells that can create a pus pocket (white head).

Also, open pores can also be blocked with dried oils, external elements or just facial dirt that form what is commonly known as a black head. Salt from sweat is another cause of many facial break outs when it dries and blocks pores.

Cysts occur when the infection affects the deeper layers of the skin. A sebaceous cyst appears when the sebaceous gland continues to produce oil. Instead of breaking the follicle wall, the follicle continues to enlarge and form a soft, pliable lump (called a cyst) under the skin. The cyst is usually not painful or discolored unless it becomes infected.

Acne Scar Causes

Acne scars occur when spots become inflamed or don't cure properly. While scarring for some sufferers seems to depend on inherited factors or skin color, precautions can be taken to prevent scars and treatments are available to greatly improve scarred skin's appearance.

In the simple terms, scars are the visible reminders of damage and tissue repair. In the case of acne, the damage is caused by the body's inflammatory response to sebum, bacteria and dead cells in the plugged sebaceous follicle. Two kinds of true scars exist:

(1) Depressed areas like in pitted acne scarring, and

(2) Raised thickened tissue like in keloids.

When a lesion occurs the body sends in the 'troops' to heal the damage. However, when their job is done they may leave behind a chaos in the shape of fibrous scar tissue, or eroded tissue. White blood cells and inflammatory molecules may remain at the site of an active acne lesion for days or even weeks. For those who are susceptible to scarring the result can be an acne scar.