Acne is often familial and is associated with oily skin, it begins with the blockage of the opening of the hair and sebaceous gland. A horny plug blocks the opening of the hair, it produces a microcomedo then microcyst. The bacteria proliferate in the follicle (Propionibacterium acnes) release substances that cause inflammation and lead microcyst a red button and a white head.
So we recognize several important factors in the development of acne:
- Increased production of sebum is responsible for oily skin, it is essentially under the control of male hormones (androgens) in men and women. It is believed that the sebaceous gland is too sensitive to androgens it can also be synthesized.
- Obstruction of the opening of the hair by a horny plug causes retentive lesions (microcomedo then open comedones or blackheads and closed comedones that form small flesh-colored or microkystes grains). Several factors influence the obstruction of pilosebaceous as the composition of sebum, the rate of male hormones, bacteria and substances produced by skin cells (cytokines).
- There is an abnormality of the microbial flora (microbes normally live on the skin). The Proprionibacterium acnes plays an essential role and promotes the occurrence of red spots from comedo, but acne is not an infection caused by these bacteria.
- Inflammation causes red bumps or papules, pustules or white heads and large painful red bumps or nodules. The inflammation is caused by substances produced by bacteria and perhaps also by fatty acids from sebum.
- Family factors also play a role in the development of acne. Adolescents with acne have one parent who has acne in almost half the cases (45%), while the parents of those who do not have acne are affected by this condition about a times out of ten (8%).
- Acne is influenced by male hormones but it is rarely caused by a disorder or disease of the endocrine glands (polycystic ovary syndrome in women, congenital deficiency of 21 hydroxylase or more rare condition). It is most likely a sebaceous gland hypersensitivity to male hormones.
- Particular forms of acne have specific causes. Acne newborn is induced by the passage of maternal hormones in the blood of newborn induced acne is caused by medication (pills, cortisone, antiepileptics ...) or toxic exposure to ultraviolet , cosmetic acne is caused by application of creams comedogenic.
