Also called: Also called: Pimples, Zits
Acne is a common skin disease that causes pimples. Pimples form when hair follicles under your skin clog up. Most pimples form on the face, neck, back, chest and shoulders. Anyone can get acne, but it is common in teenagers and young adults. It is not serious, but it can cause scars.
No one knows exactly what causes acne. Hormone changes, such as those during the teenage years and pregnancy, probably play a role. There are many myths about what causes acne. Chocolate and greasy foods are often blamed, but there is little evidence that foods have much effect on acne in most people. Another common myth is that dirty skin causes acne; however, blackheads and pimples are not caused by dirt. Stress doesn't cause acne, but stress can make it worse.
If you have acne
- Clean your skin gently
- Try not to touch your skin
- Avoid the sun
Treatments for acne include medicines and creams.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
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Acne
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/acne/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/acnespanish/htm/index.htm - Acne (Acne Vulgaris)(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/acneVulgaris.htm
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What Is Acne?
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Acne/acne_ff.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/Informacion_de_Salud/Acne/default.asp
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Acne(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/common_acne.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/spanish_acne.html
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Questions and Answers about Acne(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Acne/
- What Is Acne?(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/acne.html
- Study Lets Teens Sound off on Acne Therapies(08/18/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68271.html
- 7 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Acne Treatment(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/tips_acne_medication.html
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Acne and Isotretinoin: Using Isotretinoin the Right Way(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/parents-teens/631.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/children/parents/parents-teens/631.printerview.html
- Acne Treatments: Emerging Therapies for Clearer Skin(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/acne-treatments/SN00038/METHOD=print
- FDA Warning: Risks of Buying Accutane (Isotretinoin) over the Internet(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/buyonline/accutane/
- Over-the-Counter Acne Products: What Works and Why(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/acne-products/SN00039/METHOD=print
- Physical Procedures for Treating Acne(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/physicalprocedures.html
- Prescription Medications for Treating Acne(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/prescriptmeds.html
- Topical Acne Medication Can Clear Acne(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/article_topical_acne_medication.html
- Treating Acne in Skin of Color(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/article_skinofcolor.html
- Treating Mild Acne(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/treatingmildacne.html
- Treating Moderate to Moderately Severe Acne(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/treatingmoderatesevereacne.html
- Treating Severe Acne(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/treatsevereacne.html
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Can I Prevent Acne?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/beautiful/prevent_acne.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/cuerpo/prevent_acne_esp.html
- Early Acne Often Predicts Severe Acne(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/update.html
- Acne Mechanica(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/article_acnemechanica.html
- Excoriated Acne(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/excoriatedacne.html
- Infantile Acne(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/infantileacne.html
- Pomade Acne(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/pomadeacne.html
- Severe Acne: 4 Types(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/severeacne4types.html
- Acne Myths(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/myths.html
- Acne Scarring(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/scarring.html
- Social Impact of Acne(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/socimpct.html
- Truth about Oral Contraceptives and Acne(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/article_oral_contraceptives.html
- When to See a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/whentoseeaderm.html
- Acne Excoriée(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/teen/acneExcoriee.htm
- Acne Keloidalis Nuchae(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/acneKeloidalisNuchae.htm
- Before and After Photos: Treatment of Atrophic Scars(American Society for Dermatologic Surgery) - http://www.asds.net/AcneScarCorrectionPhotos_AtrophicScars.aspx
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Acne(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/acne/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/acnespanish/htm/index.htm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Acne Vulgaris(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Acne+Vulgaris%22
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Gene Array Research Contributes to Understanding of Acne(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/News_and_Events/Spotlight_on_Research/2007/gene_array_acne.asp
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: A novel gel formulation of clindamycin phosphate-tretinoin is not associated... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18792548&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: A combined oral contraceptive containing 3-mg drospirenone/ 20-microg ethinyl estradiol... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18792547&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Vaccine therapy for P. acnes-associated diseases. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18782033&tool=MedlinePlus
- Acne -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=acneiform+eruptions[majr]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt]))&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/glossary.html
- Find a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/findaderm/
- American Academy of Dermatology - http://www.aad.org/
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
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Acne(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/acne.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/cuerpo/acne_esp.html
- Baby Acne (Neonatal Acne)(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/infant/neonatalAcneBenignCephalicPustulosis.htm
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Acne in Teens: Ways to Control It(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/skin/disorders/001.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/skin/disorders/001.printerview.html
- Adolescent Acne(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/article_adolescentacne.html
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Can Acne Scars Be Removed?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/skin_stuff/acne_scars.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/cuerpo/acne_scars_esp.html
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Myths about Acne(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/skin_stuff/acne_myths.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/cuerpo/acne_myths_esp.html
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Why Do I Get Acne?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/skin_stuff/acne.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/cuerpo/acne_esp.html
- Adult Acne: A Fact of Life for Many Women(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/adult_acne_women.html
- Adult Acne: Effective Treatment Available(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/adult_acne_treatment.html
- Rosacea - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/rosacea.html
- Skin, Hair and Nails - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/skinhairandnails.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Acne is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/