The bacteria that cause pimples are called Propionibacterium acnes, or P. acnes for short. These bacteria live on your skin all the time. They become a problem only when a pore becomes blocked. This happens when excess oil or sebum mixes with dead skin cells to form a "plug." The bacteria build up in the oil inside the blocked pore. The body responds by sending cells to kill the bacteria, causing the pore and surrounding skin to swell and creating the little red bumps with white centers known as pimples.
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