Acne is a genetic disease, which is related to the secretion of sexual hormones. The lesions start to show up during puberty when hormones start to be produced by the organism afflicting most young people. The disease is not confined to adolescents only; it can also affect adults, especially women.

The manifestation of the disease occurs because of the increase in sebaceous secretions associated to the narrowing and obstruction of the follicle canal in the skin. The problem originates as open acnes (black ones) and closed acnes (white ones). These conditions are favorable to the proliferation of the microorganisms that causes the inflammation. Proionibacterium acnes are the most common agent involved in these types of infections.