Acne is one of the most common skin diseases in the United States. In fact, nearly 17 million people in the United States suffer from acne. Acne is most typically found in teenagers and young adults, and people from all races are a target. Nearly 85 percent of people between the ages of 12 and 24 get acne at one time or another. For some, acne is not just a 'every now and then' problem; it is an on-going problem that can cause scarring and emotional damage. By the time we reach the age of 30, acne usually goes away; however, some people in their forties.. and even fifties... still get acne.

We don't know the exact cause of how a pimple develops. What we do know is that the pore collapses on itself and blocks oil (sebum) from escaping. This causes the pore to become clogged and infected. The process by which a pimple develops is highly intricate, and we don't fully understand why one sebaceous gland has a clogging problem while the other does not.

Causes of adult acne and teen acne may include hormones, diet, evolutionary biology, vitamin deficiency, stress, and more. The real explanation may be a complex mix of many of these factors. Most pimples are found on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Acne is not a serious health threat but, it can cause scars both physically and emotionally.

Pimples grow when body hair, sebum (oil), and skin cells clump together into a plug. Bacteria in the plug cause swelling. When the plug starts to break down, a pimple appears.

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.

The most common types of pimples are:

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

2. Blackheads. These pimples rise to the surface of the skin and they look black. Contrary to popular belief, the black color is not from dirt.

3. Papules. These are small pink bumps that can be tender.

4. Pustules. These pimples are red at the bottom and have pus on top.

5. Nodules. Painful, large, solid pimples that go deep into the skin.

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