Acne- the causes of acne formation The main cause of acne formation is excess sebum production. The sebum is produced by sebaceous glands that are attached to hair follicles. This sebum protects our skin from infection and dryness. During young years hormones bring about many changes in the body. These hormones activate the sebaceous glands to produce more of sebum. Sebaceous glands and acne- Imagine of a balloon. If you keep it filling, it will expand and then burst. Something similar happens to the sebaceous glands. The hormonal activity also blocks the pores that allow sebum to come out on the skin surface. So you now have a gland that is blocked from the top and filled with sebum. The bacteria P.acnes takes advantage of this and multiplies in the sebum and infects it. You get inflamed acne as the gland bursts under pressure. As the hormones are at peak during the adolescent years, acne forms most during this period. A young person can develop many types of acne. Acne- effect on adolescents Acne spots affect the psychology of the young people. They suffer in confidence and are doubtful about developing relationships. It is important that adolescents be guided properly about their acne and treated as soon as possible. This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.