13 replies to this topic

[clearskinn]

Why is it that we get acne only on our faces? its really strange don't you think? We have oil glands all over our bodies, yet the acnes plague our face? Anybody know the scientifical information behind this?

[Geeking]

some people get it on their chests and backs ...and other places. depends on the person.

[Curlie]

Because of our T section where the glands are, which covers your forehead, down your nose, and your chin, like the letter 'T'. Ive heard about that before.

[assassin.]

Because life's a bitch.

[Termolyt]

I have acne on my back and some very mild on my chest. Face is more common because it generally has more glands and produces more sebum.

[willow569]

Pretty sure its related to the size of the oil glands - they are larger in the facial and upper back/chest areas.

[pinkunicorn]

Why is it that we get acne only on our faces? its really strange don't you think? We have oil glands all over our bodies, yet the acnes plague our face? Anybody know the scientifical information behind this?

because we don't...*

Edited by pinkunicorn, 22 December 2009 - 09:37 PM.

[LiveLaughFart]

This is what I'm trying to figure out. But what if we have DRY skin?

[richardgleaton]

Even I also wondered the same thing sometimes that why acne occurs only on face..May be the reason is that the skin of face is quiet sensitive..And there are more oil gland instead of other place..

[Chestercool]

Actually back acne is more common, people get more zits and bigger ones, thats because sebaceus glands in the back (upper back specially) are larger and produces more oil. I dont know about you but most acne suffers get spots not only on the face, on the back, chest and shoulders, even in the ass!. In adition, the T- zone (forehead,nose and chin) are places which its glands are larger than other areas of the face, however, individuals like me get pimples on cheeks and barely none on the chin, so its not the same in all the people.

[Ominous1]

It's because we have the highest concentration of sebaceous glands on our face. Therefore it's more likely that acne will occur on our face. The sebaceous glands enlarge at puberty due to the influx of a form of testosterone known as DHEA which also stimulates the (over)production of sebaceous oil. These large glands get clogged with dead skin cells, and the immune system attempts to intervene. Hey presto, inflammation, pus and acne!

[LiveLaughFart]

Ominous1, on 03 December 2011 - 08:43 PM, said:

It's because we have the highest concentration of sebaceous glands on our face. Therefore it's more likely that acne will occur on our face. The sebaceous glands enlarge at puberty due to the influx of a form of testosterone known as DHEA which also stimulates the (over)production of sebaceous oil. These large glands get clogged with dead skin cells, and the immune system attempts to intervene. Hey presto, inflammation, pus and acne!

This makes sense. So oil glands produce more oil, and the oil itself gets clogged in pores because of the dead skin cells, so the mixture of oil and dead skin cells cause acne? So what do you think about people that have dry skin that still get acne?

[Ominous1]

Yeah, that's pretty much it! Of course there are many underpinning biological mechanisms to this, but we don't want to overcomplicate it. As for people with dry skin, that is a good question. Not all acne is located in the same place for every person. So I would say there's a genetic component to the placement of these excessive sebaceous glands. With - I would suppose - generally more within the T-zone. So a person with 'dry' skin in many areas may still have overactive and superfluous sebaceous glands in other areas. Which is why, thank goodness, we don't have acne covering every square-inch of our bodies. Like many diseases acne is an interaction between your genetics and your environment.

Edited by Ominous1, 04 December 2011 - 02:08 AM.

[mewlowl]

I get acne on my chest, back, neck, arms, thighs and butt. Every get a butt pimple? lol