Acne has been the discouragement and scourge of high school proms and dates for a very long time. In reality, acne is a skin disease. In its more severe forms, it can be serious, although the most common effect is marring a good look, which then produces the side effect of lower self-esteem, lower self-confidence, and even a desire to avoid any kind of social interactions.

While acne is most prominent in teens, anyone can get acne, from babies through senior citizens. Although most people are not aware of it, even mild acne can potentially cause scarring, which is something that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Acne is a very common skin disease that happens when the hair follicles under your skin get clogged or plugged. When this occurs, the affected person can get pimples, zits, blackheads or whiteheads which can show a bright red color and can sometimes be irritable and painful. This normally happens on parts of the body that has many oil glands such as the face, neck, and shoulders although it can also appear elsewhere.

One of the reasons that acne is predominant in teens is that one of the main causes of acne is testosterone, which is present in both males and females, and the level of testosterone increases during puberty. This increased testosterone stimulates the oil glands and causes them to produce excess oils which can then clog the pores.

There is recent scientific evidence that acne may be party hereditary too, although this conclusion has not been proven to the point where it is an accepted scientific fact.

It is important to provide effective acne treatment because this is something that while it may go away on its own in time, you need to take a much more proactive role in treating it, especially to avoid the scarring that can occur. Studies indicate that the psychological effects of acne, especially for a teen, can be pronounced and have a severe negative impact on the affected person's relationships and social interactions, as well as with co-workers if the person is older and a part of the work force.

This part of the scientific studies on acne has been proven. Although the psychological effects are real, it has been demonstrated that when acne is given proper treatment and the acne begins to clear up, this has a tremendous positive effect on the person. The patient becomes more socially interactive, more willing to participate in open discussions, and just generally "bloom" socially.

One of the problems in treating it is that there are literally hundreds of acne medications available at the drugstore. The reality of this is that each and every one of these acne medications work to some degree, but the level that they are effective depends on the person. All people are different, and the acne medication that works well for one person may have almost no affect on another person. Sometimes if nothing seems to work, a good dermatologist can usually recommend something after an examination to determine your exact skin type.