Acne occurs when oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria build up inside hair follicles, resulting in infection and inflammation. Whiteheads, cysts, and other types of acne commonly affect the shoulders.
As well as the shoulders, acne can affect the face, chest, back, and other parts of the body. It is the most common skin condition in the United States. Pores are small openings in the skin. Each pore contains a single hair that sits inside a hair follicle. These hair follicles connect to oil-producing glands, called sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands secrete an oil called sebum, which carries dead skin cells to the skin’s surface. Sometimes, sebum and skin cells form a plug within the hair follicle. This plug traps dirt and bacteria inside the skin, resulting in an infection. The infection triggers inflammation in the form of a pimple.Two types of acne can develop on the shoulders: acne vulgaris and acne mechanica. Acne vulgaris – Acne vulgaris typically occurs when oil and dead skin cells build up and block a pore or hair follicle. The bacteria Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) can trigger or worsen the symptoms. * Changes in the levels of certain hormones can trigger breakouts. Below are some hormones that may influence acne vulgaris.