During puberty, the body produces more hormones, including androgens, which stimulate the sebaceous glands, leading to increased sebum production. Each sebaceous gland has a pore through which sebum is released. Sebum keeps the skin and hair supple, is water-resistant, protects against dehydration, and boosts the skin's resilience.
However, thicker sebum combined with dead skin cells can block the pores, causing blackheads. A blackhead, or comedo, can appear as either a black or white spot. Those with a white spot are deeper and can block the entire pore. Additionally, scaling can occur over the gland's excretory duct, further clogging the pore. The sebaceous glands contain bacteria that convert sebum into fatty acids. As the sebum accumulates, the clogged follicle expands and can eventually burst. This allows irritants to enter the surrounding skin, causing inflammation and resulting in acne spots and pimples.
Acne can be worsened by several factors, including:
- Genetics (family history of acne)
- Hormonal factors (menstruation and pregnancy)
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Stress
- Cosmetic use
- Friction from clothing
- Climate changes
