Because nearly 17 million people in the United Status suffer from acne, it has become one of the most common skin diseases in the United States. Nearly 85 percent of people between the ages of 12 and 24 get acne at one time or another; it is most typically found in teenagers and young adults. Usually, acne goes away by the age of 30; however, some people in their 40's and 50's still suffer from acne.

The cause of pimples is unknown. The process by which a pimple develops is highly intricate. While we do know that a pore collapses on itself and blocks sebum (oil) from escaping, we do not fully understand why this process takes place in one sebaceous gland versus another.

While we don't understand exactly what causes acne, we do know that hormones, diet, vitamin deficiency, stress, evolutionary biology (just to name a few) play a role in the formation of acne. Most pimples are found on the face, neck, back, chest and shoulders. While acne is not a serious health threat, it can cause physical and emotional scars.

Sometimes, the hair, sebum, and skin cells clump together into a plug. The bacteria in the plug cause swelling. Then when the plug starts to break down, a pimple grows.

Effective treatments for pimples are out there. Because we know that many factors cause pimples, our time is actually better spent finding and testing effective treatments.

Common types of pimples are:

1. Whiteheads. These are pimples that stay under the surface of the skin.

2. Pimples that have a black color, and they have risen to the surface of the skin. Some people say that this black color is from dirt, but that is not true. (Blackheads)

3. Papules: Small pink bumps on the surface of the skin that can be tender.

4. Pustules. Pimples that are red at the bottom and have pus on the top.

5. Nodules. Large, painful, solid pimples that are deep in the skin.

6. Cysts: These deep, painful, pus-filled pimples can cause scars.

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