Acne Basics

It’s time to Take Charge of your life! Arm yourself with acne facts so you can tackle this opponent face-to-face.

Acne Facts

Acne can include whiteheads, blackheads, pimples and, in some people, cysts – deep, painful and inflamed bumps.
Acne most commonly appears on the face, but the back, chest, shoulders and neck can break out too.
Acne usually clears up after a few years in most people. But some people break out into their 20s, 30s and even beyond.
Severe acne can scar your skin.
Acne can pack an emotional punch. Read about the emotional impact of acne.

The Life Cycle of Acne

What Causes Acne?

First of all, let’s dispel some acne myths: People do not get acne from eating chocolate or greasy food, from using makeup, or from not washing their face enough. The truth is, no one knows exactly what causes acne. Hormones and bacteria have something to do with it, and if your parents had acne, you might have inherited it from them. Here’s a step-by-step glimpse into the development of a zit.

Hormones: Puberty’s Weapon of Choice

Androgens (a type of hormone) surge during puberty.
These androgens stimulate the sebaceous glands, leading to more sebum (oil) and potentially more acne.

More Sebum Contributes to Clogged Pores

Skin cells are shed from the lining of the hair follicle.
These skin cells stick together with sebum produced by sebaceous glands.
A plug forms below the surface of the skin.
Like magic – a pore is clogged.

Your Body Fights Back

The sebum and skin cells that are clogging pores contribute to the growth of bacteria.
Specialized immune system cells invade the follicle to clean it up.

Breakout Blues

When immune cells join in, the wall of the follicle may get weak and rupture.
The contents of the follicle invade surrounding tissue.
Swelling and redness develop around the tissue. A pimple is born.

For more information on acne, visit the
American Academy of Dermatology’s AcneNet.

©2008 Galderma Laboratories, L.P. United States, All Rights Reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. This site intended for U.S. audiences only. Information in this website is not intended as medical advice. Talk to your doctor about medical concerns.

Important Safety Information

During treatment with Differin 0.1% dryness, erythema, burning or pruritus can occur. These side effects differ in frequency depending on the formulation used of Differin 0.1% (cream vs. gel). During treatment with Differin Gel 0.3% signs of cutaneous irritation like redness, scaling, dryness and/or stinging/burning may occur, but should be mild or moderate, occur early in treatment and decrease thereafter. Other side effects that may occur from using Differin Gel 0.3% include skin discomfort, pruritus and sunburn.

Concomitant use of potentially irritating products or overexposure to sunlight or sunlamps, extreme wind or cold, may increase the potential for irritation from both product concentrations. Use of sunscreen and protective clothing is recommended.