Acne

Acne is most common among teenagers, though it affects people of all ages. Acne is a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. Acne usually appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders.

Acne signs vary depending on the severity of your condition:

• Whiteheads (closed plugged pores)
• Blackheads (open plugged pores)
• Small red, tender bumps (papules)Pimples (pustules), which are papules with pus at their tips
• Large, solid, painful lumps under the skin (nodules)Painful, pus-filled lumps under the skin (cystic lesions)

Effective acne treatments are available, but acne can be persistent. The pimples and bumps heal slowly, and when one begins to go away, others seem to crop up. Depending on its severity, acne can cause emotional distress and scar the skin. The earlier you start treatment, the lower your risk of such problems. Traditional treatment have included stripping the skin of oils and avoiding oily products but new treatments include applying natural oils to the skin that slow the skins own production of oil.