Acne is a very common skin condition which arises when pores become blocked with bacteria trapped inside them.

The surface of the skin contains pores, or tiny openings called follicles, and deep inside each pore at the base of each hair follicle is a sebaceous gland which produces a natural type of oil known as sebum which acts to protect the skin and to give it flexibility.

One common form of acne is seen as white spots which are essentially trapped pus created from a mixture of dead skin cells, white blood cells and bacteria.

When spots appear with a black rather than a white head we naturally call them blackheads, but what is not commonly known is that these too are a form of acne.

Most people will suffer from simple blackheads and whiteheads and, while they can be unsightly, they can also be treated and will disappear in time.

Acne is not however confined to simple whiteheads and blackheads and there are also various other forms of acne commonly referred to as papules, nodules or cysts. Each particular type of acne has a slightly different underlying cause, and therefore treatment, and so it is important that you have your particular form of acne diagnosed by your doctor or a dermatologist before deciding on the best acne medication for your particular condition.