Acne

Acne is a disorder resulting from the action of hormones and other substances on the skin's oil glands (sebaceous glands) and hair follicles. These factors lead to plugged pores and outbreaks of lesions commonly called pimples or zits. Acne lesions usually occur on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders.

Acne: Preventing and Reducing Scarring

There are a number of ways to prevent or minimize scarring, and some treatment options are also available to reverse scarring.

Genetics of Acne

Adult Acne - Skin Disorders

Blackheads and Whiteheads: Overview

Acne and Make-Up

Acne Research

Acne Surgery

Acne and Self-Esteem

Cysts and scarring

Natural Treatments for Acne that Work

Self-Help for Acne

Can Probiotics Prevent or Treat Acne?

See more featured articles »

Hyperpigmentation and Acne

Acne Treatments

What is Acne?

Papules, Pustules and Nodules

Types of Spots, Pimples

Acne in Women

Acne Causes

Acne in Men

Latest Acne News and Research

Some hormonal contraceptives linked to higher risk of breast cancer

Some common hormonal contraceptives are linked to a slightly higher risk of breast cancer than others.

30 Oct 2025

New imaging technique maps medication distribution across skin layers

A new study by the Hebrew University has developed a rapid imaging method that reveals how drugs move through the skin, in just ten minutes.

29 Oct 2025

Four distinct subgroups of PCOS open up for more tailored treatments

Four distinct subgroups of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have been identified in an international study published in Nature Medicine by researchers from Karolinska Institutet, among others.

29 Oct 2025

Low-calorie diets linked to higher psoriatic arthritis risk, genetic study suggests

This Mendelian randomization study found that low-calorie diets may slightly increase the risk of psoriatic arthritis, while vegetarian and gluten-free diets showed no causal links to psoriasis, acne, or atopic dermatitis. The findings challenge assumptions about universally beneficial dietary patterns and highlight the need for cautious interpretation of dietary interventions in inflammatory skin disease.

19 Oct 2025

FDA shares safety guidance for people considering microneedling

Being pricked by tiny needles may sound like a strange way to make your skin look better, but that's the concept behind a skin care technique called microneedling.

16 Oct 2025

Why protein powders can secretly cause doping bans

Adulterated protein supplements can lead to unintentional doping. This review outlines detection strategies and protective measures for athletes and clinicians.

9 Oct 2025

Scientists show for the first time how fibroblasts go 'rogue' in different diseases

Scientists have mapped underappreciated scaffolding cells in skin, known as fibroblasts. They show for the first time how fibroblasts go 'rogue' in many different diseases affecting multiple organs – from acne and psoriasis, to rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

24 Sep 2025

Two-stage pimple patch eliminates acne in seven days

Waking up with a pimple is no longer cause for panic, thanks to pimple patches - small, sticker-like bandages that cover and help heal the unwanted zit.

29 Aug 2025

Fad diets and supplements fuel new wave of hidden skin problems, study finds

A new review explains how fad diets and unregulated supplements promoted online can cause serious skin, hair, and nail problems, often before other symptoms appear. Clinicians are urged to recognize these risks and address health misinformation in the digital age.

22 Jul 2025

PCOS patients often feel dismissed, misunderstood and underserved by the healthcare system

A new study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus reveals that individuals living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) often feel dismissed, misunderstood and underserved by the healthcare system.

7 Jul 2025

Monash-led research highlights urgent need to redefine PCOS

Most experts and those experiencing the potentially debilitating features of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which affects one in eight women, want greater awareness and a name change to improve care and outcomes.

29 May 2025

New insights into facial bacteria may improve acne treatment strategies

The composition of bacterial populations living on our faces plays a significant role in the development of acne and other skin conditions such as eczema.

2 May 2025

New topical gel reduces painful rash from colorectal cancer treatment

Researchers from the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have demonstrated that a novel topical BRAF inhibitor gel called LUT014 significantly reduces the severity of an acne-like rash, a common and painful side effect experienced by patients undergoing anti-EGFR therapies for colorectal cancer.

28 Apr 2025