Acne’s root cause is an excess of skin cells inside the pore- the medical term is “retention hyperkeratosis”. Most people shed about 1 layer of skin cells per day, which is easily handled by the pore. With acne skin, there can be up to 5 layers of skin cells shedding per day which overloads the pore and causes a microcomedone, or future pimple. Pore-clogging ingredients in makeup, lotions, or hair care products can exacerbate the situation, causing red, inflamed, even cystic lesions to form. Lesions can take 3 months to emerge to the surface where we can see them, so it is important to have patience during this process. The method to clarity is proper exfoliation, professional treatments, and healthy practices at home!