What Causes Acne

What Causes Acne?

The term “acne” originates from the Greek word “akme,” meaning “point” or “spot,” and was originally misspelled with an ‘n’ instead of an ‘m’ in 1835. During puberty, acne commonly occurs when the sebaceous glands are activated by male hormones produced by the adrenal glands in both males and females. Acne develops when skin cells, sebum, and hair clump together into a plug, which can become infected with bacteria, leading to swelling and the formation of pimples. Factors contributing to acne include overproduction of oil, irregular shedding of dead skin cells, and the build-up of bacteria. Hormonal changes, certain medications, and dietary factors can also trigger or worsen acne.