How is sebum produced?

Sebum, the oil your body produces to lubricate your skin and hair, is produced by the sebaceous glands, which are connected to hair follicles. Watch to learn about how sebum is produced.

Sebum is an oil made by your skin. When your hormones rise such as during adolescence, they stimulate the sebaceous glands, which are attached to hair follicles or pores, to produce greater amounts of sebum. Surging hormones are usually the reason teenagers get acne, and why women often break out when they are pregnant and before menstruation. Acne lesions such as whiteheads, blackheads, or pimples occur when the pore around a hair follicle becomes plugged with sebum and dead cells.