Acne, an inflammatory condition of the skin, occurs when hair follicles become filled with dead skin cells and oil. It usually causes whiteheads, blackheads or pimples and normally become visible on the forehead, face, neck, chest, shoulders and upper back but it is more common on the face. It usually occurs after puberty of a teenager, when the sebaceous glands start secreting an oily or waxy matter, called sebum, to lubricate and waterproof the skin and hair.
Acne is the most common skin condition all over the world. It affects 50 million citizens of the U.S. yearly. Almost, 85% of these citizens experience this condition between their ages of 12 and 24 years. But there is no restriction of age for acne, it can occur at any age.
It is popular among people that a harmful diet, poor hygiene, and an uncontrolled sex drive are the main reasons behind acne. But, these are just popular myths and it has nothing to do with acne. Therefore, avoiding chocolates and washing your face 10 times a day will not stop this embarrassing skin problem. The actual truth is that heredity and hormones are behind most forms of acne.
Dr. Ava Shamban, a dermatologist, describes what is acne and provides useful tips to prevent and cure it. Watch the video below to know what she says about it.