Acne is one of the most common skin conditions seen in both adolescents and adults. In fact over 85% of adolescents will experience some form of acne. Acne can take several forms, with the most common being acne vulgaris. Nearly all individuals will experience acne vulgaris, referred to as common acne, at some point in time. Acne vulgaris is less severe than cystic acne and can be seen in both teens and adults. Cystic acne refers to severe cases of acne where pimples join together to form large cysts on the skin. The risk of scarring is much higher in those individuals experiencing cystic acne.

Acne in teens is prevalent due to the hormonal changes that occur during puberty. Puberty causes our body to produce excessive hormones. These hormone changes effect our weight, height ,hair growth, mood, and various glands including the sebaceous gland. Acne is caused by the stimulation of the sebaceous gland through an increase in the hormone androgen.  Once stimulated, the sebaceous glands secrete excessive amounts of sebum oil which remains on the surface of the skin, clogging pores and blocking follicles. This process attracts bacteria to the skin, and subsequently causes the formation of acne. For this reason, acne tends to appear on areas of the body where sebaceous glands are most substantial. (ie. face, neck, back and chest)

Adolescent acne can persist into the adult years or in cases not flare up until the adult years. This development is known as adult acne. Over productive sebaceous glands are not caused only by the increase in hormones during the teenage years or even pregnancy. Excessive sebum production is naturally found in certain individuals, making acne at any age a possibility.