Inflammation of the skin caused by an overproduction of sebum commonly causes that annoying and embarrassing condition known as acne.

Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands, which are microscopic in size, and secrete this oily matter.  Sebum is used to lubricate the skin, but the overproduction of it results in acne.  This natural skin oil takes the dead skin cells to the top layer of your skin.  The problem of acne occurs when too much sebum is produced and gets clogged up.  This is what causes pimples,zits, blackheads, and whiteheads to appear.  Severe cases of acne can occur in some instances when these pockets of oily skin become irritated, swollen, and have the potential to burst.

Acne can be caused by a variety of things.  The most common factor for the cause of acne is a change in hormones, as is commonly found in the teenage community between the ages of 12 to 18.  High levels of this natural oily skin matter become prominent when high levels of hormones are produced in the body.

Acne breakouts can occur at any time in our lives, but are most prominent in adolescents.  Other causes of acne breakout range from pregnancy, periods of high stress, or during menstruation.  Elimination of acne becomes tough because of this unpredictable nature.

There are ways to lessen your chances of producing acne, which range from cleaning your skin thoroughly, getting a fair amount of exercise, and staying away from makeup products that may irritate the skin and clog it up.

For those with severe cases of acne a visit to the dermatologist is probably the best solution.  If untreated, severe cases of acne can lead to unsightly scarring, which often becomes permanent.  Consult your physician on the best steps that you can take to avoid, or treat your acne problem.