Acne is a disorder of the skin that results from development of lesions from the sebaceous glands associated with hair follicles usually on the face, external auditory meatus, chest, back and ano genital area. The prominent changes that result because of acne are increase sebum secretion, thickening of keratin lining the sebaceous ducts, inflammation around sebaceous glands and increase in P.acnes bacteria in the duct as well as an increase in the free fatty acid.

The factors that are responsible for the development of acne are:

Hormones:

The hormonal changes that take place with the development of a person are responsible for lesions of acne. Androgenic hormones increase the size of the sebaceous glands and in turn cause excessive release of sebum in males and females. This affect is opposed by estrogen. The women who tend to develop acne have increased free levels of testosterone because of a decrease in the hormone binding globulins.

Other conditions that are responsible for infantile acne are adrenal hyperplasia and virilising tumors as well as trans placental stimulation of adrenal gland.

Oral Contraceptives:

Women who are using oral contraceptives are prone to worsening attacks of acne because of the component in it called ethinyl estradiol in an amount exceeding 50 microgram.

Fluid retention:

This causes a pre menstrual exacerbation of acne because of increased swelling of the ducts because of excessive retention of fluids.

Season:

There is improvement of acne by natural sunlight and the condition worsens with the advent of winter.

External factors:

Oil can result in acne like lesions called oil folliculitis. Other substances that promote acne include coal, DDT, cutting oils, halogenated hydrocarbons as well as many other chemicals.