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Acne appears when sebaceous glands inside the hair follicles (pores) of the skin become plugged, because emission happens faster than the oil and skin cells can leave the follicle. The plug makes the follicle to swell (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, devitalized skin cells, and microorganisms found usually on the surface of the skin can enter the skin and create small infected areas known as pustules (also called pimples or "zits").

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

Of course open pores can also be blocked with dried oils, external elements or just facial dirt that form what is usually called a black head. Salt from sweat is another cause of most facial break outs when it dries and blocks pores.

Cysts occur when the infection affects the deeper layers of the skin. A sebaceous cyst forms when the sebaceous gland continues producing oil. Instead of rupturing the follicle wall, the follicle continues to enlarge and form 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 occur when spots become inflamed or don't heal adequately. While scarring for some people seems to depend on inherited factors or skin color, precautions can be taken to prevent scars and treatments are available to significantly reduce scarred skin's appearance.

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

(1) Depressed areas like in pitted acne scarring or ice-pick scars, and

(2) Raised thickened tissue like in keloids.

When a lesion happens the body rushes in the 'troops' to heal the damage. However, when their job is complete they may leave behind a chaos 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 outcome may be an acne scar.