The face is usually the first thing that is noticed about a person, and acne can negatively affect others’ perceptions. The medical term for “pimples” is acne or acne vulgaris (vulgaris means “common”). The reason it's called "common acne” is because nearly everyone suffers from a pimple outbreak at some point in life. The psychological effects of acne can be profound, and persons with acne are at risk for substantial, negative effects on quality of life, similar to those seen in persons with asthma, epilepsy, or arthritis. Adolescents and adults with acne have higher rates of anxiety, low self-worth, and depression than those without acne. Acne lesions are most common on the face, but they can also occur on the neck, chest, back, shoulders, and upper arms. Acne is characterized by blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, oily skin and black spots/scarring. Contrary to popular belief, acne isn't caused by a harmful diet, poor hygiene, or an uncontrolled sex drive. The simple truth is that heredity and hormones are behind most forms of acne. Swearing off chocolate or scrubbing your face 10 times a day won't change your predisposition to this unsightly, sometimes painful, and often embarrassing skin problem.