Acne

Germs alone do not cause pimples.  Instead, germs contribute to formation of pimples when they become trapped beneath the skin’s surface, within stagnant oil inside a blocked hair follicle.  Watch the animation to see how this happens. Full Answer

Pimples start underneath the skin, not in dirt on the top. Pimples are the visible result of your immune system responding to a build up of bacteria in a hair follicle opening clogged by oil and dead skin cells. Watch the animation to learn more about... Full Answer

A pimple forms when a hair follicle becomes blocked by a mixture of skin oil and dead skin cells that are trying to shed onto the surface of the skin.  As oil continues to be produced, it backs up inside the follicle.  Any bacteria that may be... Full Answer

Hormone changes throughout life can irritate the skin and cause adult acne. Learn more about adult acne in this video with Dr. Oz. Full Answer

Many myths exist about what causes acne. Chocolate and greasy foods are often blamed, but exactly what effect foods seem to have on either the development or the course of acne in most people remains unclear. No studies have been able to show... Full Answer

Acne is the most common skin condition known. It can affect men, women, and children of all ages, races, and most ethnicities. People with higher-than-normal sebum levels are at most risk because the oily substance clogs pores where bacteria can thrive.... Full Answer

Beta hydroxy acid (BHA) gets rid of acne by penetrating more deeply into pores to break the bonds keeping dead skin cells glued within. It’s lipophilic, which means it can get through acne-producing oil build-up. One of the most familiar... Full Answer

Many swear by the bacteria-fighting, anti-acne action of tea tree oil. If the pure oil irritates your skin, try diluting it with a bit of water. Full Answer

Sulfur is often overlooked in skin care, but is starting to appear in more products, and helps treat acne. Its antibacterial properties target acne while it draws accumulated sebum out of clogged pores. Full Answer

Triclosan is an antibacterial agent. It is part of a class of chemicals called chlorophenols, which are not water-soluble. That means they have a longer lifespan -- and can increase the time that other ingredients remain active on your skin.... Full Answer