Acne occurs when hair follicles become clogged with an oily substance and dead skin cells. Each hair follicle is connected to a sebaceous gland that produces an oily substance called sebum, which helps lubricate the hair and skin. The oily substance travels up the hair shaft and out of the follicle onto the skin’s surface. When the body produces an excess of sebum and dead skin cells, they can accumulate in the hair follicles, leading to blockages.
These blockages can cause the follicle walls to bulge and produce whiteheads. If the blockage is open to the skin’s surface, it results in blackheads. The blockage can also lead to the growth of bacteria and inflammation, resulting in the development of pimples.