Adolescents are understandably very conscious of their acne.
At this stage in life they are going through many changes and their hormones are fluctuating which can cause them to feel unhappy and emotional about the difficulties their acne causes.
The bodily changes that teenagers experience are perfectly normal and happen to everyone.
The changes include growth of hair in certain places.
There can be changes to the voice for boys, and menstruation begins for girls.
All of these things can cause feelings of confusion and concern.
These changes can also unfortunately contribute to the development of acne.
This is because the increase in hormones triggers a higher level of sebum to be produced.
Sebum is a mixture of oils which are produced in the sebaceous glands under the skin.
The excess oils can cause blockages and infections of the hair follicles and pores of the skin.
The blockages cause the spots, pimples and cysts that we commonly know as acne.
Papules, pustules, blackheads and whiteheads will also be visible.
These lesions can be seen on almost any part of the body but usually occur where there are more sebaceous glands such as the face, neck, shoulders, back, and upper arms.
Acne is not limited just to teenagers.
It also causes a problem for many adults.
Any fluctuations or changes in hormone levels can trigger it.
So for example, pregnancy and the menopause are two times of life when acne can occur.
Acne can be devastating to people's emotions and very damaging to self confidence and self esteem.
This can lead to withdrawal and difficulty in social situations because the sufferer can feel unattractive and imagine that other people are noticing the marks on their skin.
There is no need to be embarrassed if you suffer from acne because many other people have it as well.
It can also be easily treated and is not a major problem.