How is Acne formed?

Oil is naturally produced in order to allow healing and lubrication of our skin. If the oil glands become hypertrophied (too large) they produce more oil than the pores can clear, the oil can’t escape fast enough and it becomes clogged in the pores. Once the air can not enter into the oil glands/pores, bacteria begin to grow there. The bacteria break the oil as food-producing byproducts that cause inflammation. 

In some individuals, the inflammation is more pronounced than in others. The more the immune system overreacts to the bacterial byproduct the worse the acne condition. As the immune system tries to “evict” the bacteria it pushes them out of the skin leading to the formation of pimples and cysts. Occasionally the body is so overacting to the inflammation that it forms scars to prevent the ability of bacteria to re-enter through the pores into the oil glands. Still, the bacteria find channels to renter and feed and settle in the sebaceous/oil glands.

Blackheads and whiteheads are the precursors to the pimple and cysts seen in acne.