Acne vulgaris (commonly known as Acne) is a skin disease and comes from the Greek word άκμή, describing the occurrence of skin inflammation as a skin eruption.  The scientific explanation of how acne is caused is by changes in the skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and the local gland. If an individual develops a severe form of acne, their skin will become inflamed, but acne can also manifest in noninflammatory forms. Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, spots, or zits.

Over 85% of teenagers will be affected by acne at one point or another during adolescence, making this the most common stage in life to get acne. For the majority people, acne diminishes over time and tends to disappear, but it is still possible for acne to continue into adulthood.  Most people will stop having acne problems once they reach their early twenties, but that does not mean it can’t return in the future.  There is no way to predict how long it will take for it to disappear entirely, and individuals could possibly continue to suffer from acne decades later, into their thirties and forties.