Why do pimples appear?

The idea

Acne is a skin condition of adolescence in which increased oily secretions from the skin clog skin pores and lead to infections; pimples are a manifestation of acne.

Spots on the face

Many adolescents see small, reddish pimples on the face. Our skin makes a little oil, and the oil comes out through tiny openings called pores.

What do you think happens in adolescence to cause pimples?

• The skin makes less oil
• The skin makes more oil
• The skin becomes thinner

Zoom in on a pore

Slide the oil from a little to more. Zoom in on one pore in the skin and watch what happens.

Acne

Acne is a skin condition of adolescence. An increase in oily secretions from the skin clogs the pores and leads to infections. Pimples are a manifestation of acne.

Acne is a common occurrence in the adolescent years. If it worries you, talk to a parent or a teacher.

• What we saw | What it means
• A little oil | the pore stays open
• More oil in adolescence | the oil clogs the pore
• A clogged pore | it gets infected: a pimple shows

Notes

Acne is a skin condition of adolescence in which an increase in oily secretions clogs the skin pores and leads to infections. Pimples are a manifestation of acne.

Check yourself

What is acne?

What causes acne during adolescence?

Which of these is the sign of acne that we can see on the face?

Which order of events is right?

• Just another name for one pimple. Acne is the condition. A pimple is only what we see of it.
• The stage of life after childhood. That is adolescence. Acne is a skin condition of that stage.
• A skin condition of adolescence — correct. Yes! Pimples are how acne shows.
• More oil that clogs the skin pores — correct. Yes! More oil clogs the pores and leads to infection.
• Too little oil, which dries the skin. Acne comes from an increase in oil, not a decrease.
• Dust settling on the skin pores. The book names more oily secretions as the cause, not dust.
• Oil from the skin. Oil is the cause. The sign we see is something else.
• Pimples — correct. Yes! Pimples are a manifestation of acne.
• Pores in the skin. Pores are normal openings in the skin; they are not the sign of acne.
• More oil, pore clogged, infection, pimple — correct. Yes! This is what we saw in the zoom.
• Infection, more oil, pore clogged, pimple. The infection comes after the pore is clogged.
• Pimple, pore clogged, more oil, infection. The pimple is the last thing we see.