acne
Sign in to saveAcne, also known as acne vulgaris, is a long-term skin condition that occurs when dead skin cells and sebum clog hair follicles. Typical features of the condition include blackheads or whiteheads, pimples, oily skin, and possible scarring. It primarily affects skin with a relatively high number of oil glands, including the face, upper part of the chest, and back. The resulting appearance can lead to lack of confidence, anxiety, reduced self-esteem, and, in extreme cases, depression or thoughts of suicide.
AI overview
Acne is a common skin condition where dead skin cells and oil block hair follicles, causing blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and oily skin, typically on the face, chest, and back. It matters because beyond the physical symptoms, acne can significantly affect a person's emotional well-being, potentially leading to anxiety, low self-esteem, and in severe cases, depression.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Medical condition.name
- Acne
- Medical condition.pronounce
- ( )
- Medical condition.synonyms
- Acne vulgaris
- Medical condition.image
- Acne vulgaris on a very oily skin.jpg
- Medical condition.caption
- Acne vulgaris in an 18-year-old male during puberty
- Medical condition.alt
- Photograph of an 18-year-old male with moderate severity acne vulgaris demonstrating classic features of whiteheads and oily skin distributed over the forehead
- Medical condition.field
- Dermatology
- Medical condition.symptoms
- Blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, oily skin, scarring
- Medical condition.complications
- Anxiety, reduced self-esteem, depression, thoughts of suicide
- Medical condition.onset
- Puberty
- Medical condition.types
- blackhead, whitehead, papule, pustule, nodule, cyst
Article
41 sectionsContents
- Classification
- Signs and symptoms
- Scars
- Pigmentation
- Causes
- Genes
- Hormones
- Infections
- Diet
- Stress
- Other
- Pathophysiology
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnosis
- Management
- Skin care
- Diet
- Medications
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Retinoids
- Antibiotics
- Hormonal agents
- Azelaic acid
- Salicylic acid
- Other medications
- Combination therapy
- Pregnancy
- Procedures
- Postacne scar treatment
- Alternative medicine
- Self-care
- Prognosis
- Mental health impact
- Epidemiology
- History
- Society and culture
- Research
- Other animals
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Acne, also known as acne vulgaris, is a long-term skin condition that occurs when dead skin cells and sebum clog hair follicles. Typical features of the condition include blackheads or whiteheads, pimples, oily skin, and possible scarring. It primarily affects skin with a relatively high number of oil glands, including the face, upper part of the chest, and back. The resulting appearance can lead to lack of confidence, anxiety, reduced self-esteem, and, in extreme cases, depression or thoughts of suicide.
Susceptibility to acne is primarily genetic in 80% of cases. The roles of diet and cigarette smoking in the condition are unclear, and neither cleanliness nor exposure to sunlight are associated with acne. In both sexes, hormones called androgens appear to be part of the underlying mechanism, by causing increased production of sebum. Another common factor is the excessive growth of the bacterium Cutibacterium acnes, which is present on the skin.