What is Acne?

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Acne is an actual disease of the pores.  It is also called ‘retention hyperkeratosis’. Individuals who are acne-prone sheds dead skin cells much faster than normal, at a rate that the skin cannot keep up with.  Most acne is inherited, but it can be caused by certain drugs, medications or exposure to certain chemicals.  As excess dead skin cells shed, they form a plug along with sebum (oil) and hair.  If the body doesn’t see the plug as an invader, then it remains as a noninflamed lesion, or blackhead.  If it does, then it forms into pimples, pustules and cysts.

More than 60 million Americans suffer from some from of acne breakouts.  Acne affects more than 80% of all people at some time in their lives.  Acne now has hit epidemic proportions in adults.  What used to be just a teenage problem is now a significant challenge in many peoples' lives.

What acne is NOT:
  • It's not just a teenage problem
  • It's not a result of improper cleansing
  • More scrubbing will not alleviate acne
  • It's not cured with Accutane
  • It's not easy to treat




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