Oil Production
Oil glands, or sebaceous glands, are located deep within the skin and each gland is connected to a hair follicle. Oil, or sebum, is produced by these glands and then travels to the skin's surface. When the oil glands become enlarged, they produce larger amounts of sebum, which causes oily skin, and when the sebum becomes trapped within the pore, pimples form. Skin cells grow over the pores to prevent the oil from escaping, and the cyst will often develop into a whitehead or a blackhead.
Bacteria
Acne itself is not caused by bacterial infections, however, Propionibacterium acnes is a naturally occurring bacterium that grows on the skin to fight off harmful bacteria and infection. When hair follicles become infected beneath the skin, P. acnes hinders the infection's ability to escape. This often results in skin inflammation. Few people consider staphylococcus bacteria to blame for their acne, but in actuality staph is commonly found on the skin of many people. The staph germ causes conditions like cellulitis and folliculitis and it can be found within the cysts produced by acne vulgaris.
Other Factors
Hormonal changes in the body often put the sebaceous glands into overdrive. Hormones like androgen and estrogen cause the oil glands to expand during puberty, pregnancy and menstrual cycles. The expansion of the oil glands cause the overproduction of oils. Contrary to common belief, acne isn't caused by dirt, and over-washing can irritate the skin and make acne breakouts worse. According to the Mayo Clinic, it is speculated that genetics could play a role in causing acne, but there aren't enough studies to prove this theory.
Tags: sebaceous glands