acne or acne vulgaris is a skin problem that starts when oil and dead skin cells clog up your pores. some people call it blackheads blemishes whiteheads pimples or zits. when you have just a few red spots or pimples you have a mild form of acne. severe acne can mean hundreds of pimples that can cover the face neck chest and back. or it can be bigger solid red lumps that are painful ( cysts ). most young people get at least mild acne. it usually gets better after the teen years. but many adult women do have acne in the days before their menstrual periods. how you feel about your acne may not be related to how bad it is. some people with severe acne are not bothered by it. others are embarrassed or upset even though they have only a few pimples. the good news is that there are many good treatments that can help you get acne under control. webmd medical reference from healthwise this information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information. © 1995-2011 healthwise incorporated. healthwise healthwise for every health decision and the healthwise logo are trademarks of healthwise incorporated.
what is acne?