Acne FAQ • What Is Acne? • How Does Acne Develop? • What Causes Acne? • Factors That Can Make Acne Worse • How Is Acne Treated? • Treatment for Blackheads, Whiteheads, and Mild Inflammatory Acne • Treatment for Moderate to Severe Inflammatory Acne • Treatment for Severe Nodular or Cystic Acne • Other Treatments for Acne • How Should People With Acne Care for Their Skin? • What Research Is Being Done on Acne? • Why Acne Forms, and How Accutane Knocks It Out • Where Can People Find More Information on Acne?

These increase in both boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy or starting or stopping birth control pills can also cause acne.

Another factor is heredity or genetics. Researchers believe that the tendency to develop acne can be inherited from parents. For example, studies have shown that many school-age boys with acne have a family history of the disorder. Certain drugs, including androgens and lithium, are known to cause acne. Greasy cosmetics may alter the cells of the follicles and make them stick together, producing a plug.

Source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.