Acne is an inflammatory disease of the skin, caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). The condition is common in puberty as a result of an abnormal response to normal levels of the male hormone testosterone. The response for most people diminishes over time and acne thus tends to disappear, or at least decrease, after one reaches their early twenties. There is, however, no way to predict how long it will take for it to disappear entirely, and some individuals will continue to suffer from acne decades later, into their thirties and forties and even beyond. Acne affects a large percentage of humans at some stage in life.

There are many products sold for the treatment of acne, many of them without any scientifically-proven effects. However, a combination of treatments can greatly reduce the amount and severity of acne in many cases. It is highly advisable to ask a dermatologist about the tradeoffs between these treatments for any individual case, especially when considering using any of them in combination.

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