Acne vulgaris is a common disorder affecting the skin. It specifically involves the pilosebaceous unit, consisting of the hair follicle and sebaceous gland. The cause is multifactorial and the four major causal components are proliferation of the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes, abnormal shedding of the cells lining the pores, androgen-induced sebum production, and inflammation. It primarily affects teenagers but is not confined to this age group. The lesion types in acne are divided into two major groups, inflammatory and noninflammatory. Noninflammatory lesions include open and closed comedones, also known as whiteheads and blackheads, respectively. Inflammatory lesions are more prominent, appearing as red papules, pustules, or, the most severe, cysts. Acne predominates in areas rich in sebaceous glands such as the face, chest, and upper back. Although acne does not constitute a life-threatening condition, multiple studies have demonstrated that the psychosocial ramifications of...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Suggested Reading
Baldwin, H. E. (2002). The interaction between acne vulgaris and the psyche. Cutis, 70, 133–139.
Goulden, V., Stables, G. I., & Cunliffe, W. J. (1999). Prevalence of facial acne in adults. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 41, 577–580.
Shaw, J. C. (1996). Antiandrogen and hormonal treatment of acne. Current Therapy, 14, 803–811.
White, G. M. (1998). Recent findings in the epidemiologic evidence, classification, and sub-types of acne vulgaris. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 39, S34–S37.
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2004 Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers
About this entry
Cite this entry
Mercurio, M.G. (2004). Acne. In: Encyclopedia of Women’s Health. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-306-48113-0_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-306-48113-0_10
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-306-48073-7
Online ISBN: 978-0-306-48113-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive