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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Acne. Zits. Pimples. Blemishes. No matter what you call them, acne can be distressing and annoyingly persistent. Acne lesions heal slowly, and when one begins to resolve, others seem to crop up.
Hormones likely play a role in the development of acne, making the condition most common in teenagers. But people of all ages can get acne. Some adult women experience acne due to hormonal changes associated with pregnancy, their menstrual cycles, or starting or stopping birth control pills.
Depending on its severity, acne can cause emotional distress and lead to scarring of the skin. The good news is that effective treatments are available — and the earlier treatment is started, the lower your risk of lasting physical and emotional damage.
- Questions and answers about acne. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Acne/default.asp. Accessed Aug. 18, 2009.
- Acne, rosacea, and related disorders. In: Habif TP. Habif: Clinical Dermatology. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/154949720-8/876573412/1195/43.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-01319-8..50009-1--cesec93_660. Accessed Aug. 18, 2009.
- Thiboutot D, et al. New insights into the management of acne: An update from the Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne Group. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2009;60:S1.
- Ofori AO. Treatment of acne vulgaris. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 18, 2009.
- Ofori AO. Pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of acne vulgaris. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 18, 2009.
- Acne scarring. American Academy of Dermatology's AcneNet. http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/scarring.html. Accessed Aug. 18, 2009.
- Ofori AO. Oral isotretinoin therapy for acne vulgaris. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 18, 2009.
- Ofori AO. Light-based, adjunctive, and other therapies for acne vulgaris. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 18, 2009.
- Hull SK. Acne vulgaris and acne rosacea. In: Rakel D. Integrative Medicine. 2nd. ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/154949720-5/876573048/1494/120.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2954-0..50077-6_3793. Accessed Aug. 18, 2009.
- Bowe WP, et al. Effective over-the-counter acne treatments. Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. 2008;27:170.
