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Acne occurs when sebaceous glands inside the hair follicles (pores) of the skin become plugged, because emission occurs faster than the oil and skin cells can evacuate the follicle. The plug makes the follicle to bulge (causing whiteheads), and the tip of the plug may darken (causing blackheads). If the plug causes the wall of the follicle to break, the oil, dead skin cells, and microbes found usually on the surface of the skin can penetrate the skin and create small infected areas known as pustules (also called pimples or "zits").

The actual pimple is usually the result of bacteria invading an open skin pore causing the body to respond with millions of white cells to eliminate the invaders. As the white cells fight and die they create an inflamed area that turns red (pimple) which over time turns into an even greater mass of dead cells that can form a pus pocket (white head).

Also, open pores can also be blocked with dried oils, external matter or just facial dirt that form what is commonly known as a black head. Salt from sweat is another cause of many facial break outs when it dries and clogs pores.

Cysts appear when the infection reaches the deeper layers of the skin. A sebaceous cyst forms when the sebaceous gland continues producing oil. Instead of breaking the follicle wall, the follicle continues to grow and create a soft, pliable lump (called a cyst) beneath the skin. The cyst is usually not painful or discolored unless it becomes infected.

Acne Scar Causes

Acne scars appear when spots become inflamed or don't heal properly. While scarring for some sufferers seems to depend on inherited factors or skin color, precautions can be taken to avoid scars and treatments are available to greatly improve scarred skin's appearance.

In the simple words, scars are the visible reminders of injury and tissue healing. In the case of acne, the injury is caused by the body's inflammatory reaction to sebum, bacteria and dead cells in the plugged sebaceous follicle. Two kinds of true scars exist:

(1) Depressed areas such as pitted acne scarring or ice-pick scars, and

(2) Raised thickened tissue such as keloids.

When a lesion occurs the body rushes in the 'troops' to repair the damage. However, when their job is complete they may leave behind a mess in the form of fibrous scar tissue, or eroded tissue. White blood cells and inflammatory molecules may remain at the site of an active acne lesion for days or even weeks. For those who are susceptible to scarring the result may be an acne scar.