Acne is a localised skin condition that commonly affects the face and neck, back, chest and upper arm areas. There are a variety of different types however acne vulgaris is easily the most common and statistics suggest it affects approximately four out of every five teenagers and around a fifth of all adults. The condition ranges from mild to severe and in extreme cases permanent scarring is a possibility. The cause of acne vulgaris is thought to be the overproduction of sebum, an oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands. Excessive sebum blocks the openings to the pores in the skin and any dirt trapped below the surface can become infected, thus producing the inflammation associated with acne.

The common symptoms of acne include:

• minute blackheads,
• small firm white-heads,
• reddened pimples that can develop yellow pus-filled tips,
• tender lumps beneath the skin's surface that more often then not don't have heads i.e. cysts

Good hygiene can often help to clear acne and washing the affected areas with a medicated cleanser twice a day will normally help to unblock the pores and reduce any bacterial infection that may have developed. It is important not to rub at the skin too vigorously as this can cause the areas to become sore. It is also important not to squeeze white-heads or pick pimples as again this can make the condition worse and in severe cases it can cause scarring to occur.

Acne can develop into a serious condition and it can often cause stress and unhappiness, especially during adolescence. Thankfully, by treating the condition early in its course it can usually be controlled, thus greatly reducing the probability of permanent scarring. Acne is not a condition to be embarrassed about and with the help of certain products and treatments it can be cured.