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Summary
Acne is a common skin disease that causes pimples. Pimples form when hair follicles under your skin clog up. Most pimples form on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Anyone can get acne, but it is common in teenagers and young adults. It is not serious, but it can cause scars.
No one knows exactly what causes acne. Hormone changes, such as those during the teenage years and pregnancy, probably play a role. There are many myths about what causes acne. Chocolate and greasy foods are often blamed, but there is little evidence that foods have much effect on acne in most people. Another common myth is that dirty skin causes acne; however, blackheads and pimples are not caused by dirt. Stress doesn’t cause acne, but stress can make it worse.
If you have acne:
- Clean your skin gently
- Try not to touch your skin
- Avoid the sun
Treatments for acne include medicines and creams.
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Start Here
- Acne (American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Acne (Acne Vulgaris) (VisualDX)
- What Can I Do About Acne? (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish
- What Is Acne?
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)Also in Spanish
Treatments and Therapies
- Laser Acne Treatment (VisualDX)
- Nonprescription Acne Treatment: Which Products Work Best? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish
Living With
- Acne: Tips for Managing
(American Academy of Dermatology)
Related Issues
- Acne Scars: Overview (American Academy of Dermatology)
Images
- Acne Excoriée (VisualDX)
- Acne Keloidalis Nuchae (VisualDX)
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Acne Vulgaris (National Institutes of Health)
Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Creating an evidence map of the safety profile of spironolactone across…
- Article: Differential plasma proteome analysis reveals key proteins associated with insulin resistance…
- Article: Potential Cosmetic Applications of the Combined Extract of Panax ginseng, Ganoderma…
- Acne — see more articles
Find an Expert
- Find a Dermatologist (American Academy of Dermatology)
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish
Children
- Acne (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish
- Baby Acne (Neonatal Acne) (VisualDX)
Teenagers
- Acne (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish
- Can Acne Scars Be Removed? (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish
- Teen Acne: How to Treat and Prevent This Common Skin Condition (American Academy of Pediatrics)Also in Spanish
Women
- Acne (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health)Also in Spanish
- Isotretinoin and Other Retinoids during Pregnancy (March of Dimes Foundation)Also in Spanish
- Pregnancy Acne: What’s the Best Treatment? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish
- Topical Acne Treatments and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists)Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Acne (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
- Acne – self-care (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Topic Image
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
Related Health Topics
National Institutes of Health
The primary NIH organization for research on Acne is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Other Languages
Find health information in languages other than English on Acne
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