# Causes of Acne Formation

Hair follicles and sebaceous glands are present in the skin's pores.

When the pores become clogged or excess sebum is produced,

the sebum cannot be discharged to the outside and builds up inside the pores.

This is called comedonal acne, or whiteheads.

![Image](https://upload.cafenono.com/image/slashpagePost/20260615/043500_z8PQqrNBtaGfwGNdjM?q=80&s=1280x180&t=outside&f=webp)

Stages of Acne

Stage 1 — Comedonal Acne

Clogged pores and small bumps such as whiteheads or blackheads

Stage 2 — Inflammatory Papules

Red, inflamed bumps without visible pus

Stage 3 — Red Acne Marks

Persistent redness remaining after inflammation

Stage 4 — Nodular Acne

Deep, painful, inflamed lesions beneath the skin

Stage 5 — Cystic and Pustular Acne

Severe inflammatory acne accompanied by pus and deeper skin damage

Stage 6 — Hyperpigmentation and Scarring

Brown discoloration, uneven skin texture, and acne scars

Acne can present with different treatment options at every stage, but the most important time to begin treatment is Stage 5.

For the site tree, see the [root Markdown](https://slashpage.com/site-ue2rawvtkut154e1upxty5kbh.md).