Pimples either occur in singles (as that bothersome pimple on your brow or the end of your nose) or in profusion, in which case they are broadly termed as acne. It is not clear what the baseline origin of most kinds of pimples is, but it is generally accepted that blocked skin pores are the main offenders.

Normally, essential natural skin oil excreted by the sebaceous glands does its lubricating and moisturizing work and drains off. If the escape route (the skin pore or follicle) is blocked, it will back up and cause a fluid-filled eruption that we know as a pimple. It can also involve infected or otherwise abnormal hair follicles, which exist almost all over the body.

The pimples associated with adolescent acne almost certainly occur because of hormonal changes that take place during puberty. Both males and females get an overdose of the male hormone testosterone during this period, causing excessive generation of sebaceous fluids that invariably cause pimples.

Whether they are whiteheads or blackheads, very few teenagers escape the dreaded outbreak of unsightly skin lesions on the face, neck, upper back and shoulders. However, such pimples usually go away after their “designated time” is over, hopefully leaving no scars in their wake.

Pimples may also crop up for genetic reasons. It is not clear how susceptibility to acne can be inherited from one’s parents, but studies do indicate a high occurrence of acne among school-going children whose parents had it, too.

Finally, certain medications like contraceptive pills and anti-psychotics like lithium carbonate may temporarily mimic the hormonal changes prevalent during adolescence and cause either brief or protracted pimple outbreaks. If this is the case, a simple adjustment in medication may be all that is required.