Blackheads can put a dark cloud over your complexion. These tiny black bumps are a combination of oil, dead skin cells and bacteria that get into your skin and clog your pores. The area turns black when the air hits it; otherwise, these elements stay under the skin and turn into a pimple or whitehead.

The pores in your skin serve as tiny exits for sweat and oils. They are also entrances for topical medications and beneficial skin creams when they are not blocked. A buildup of impurities inside the pores can interfere with normal functioning of the skin and lead to skin problems.

Though most people think of acne as a face issue, blemishes can pop up anywhere on your body where dirt, oil or other debris clog your pores. It's not uncommon to get breakouts on your back, chest and arms. In fact, back acne is so common that it's gotten its own nickname: bacne.

Sometimes the body produces too much sebaceous oil -- the body’s natural oil for lubricating hair and skin. When this happens, the pores clog with excess oil, dead skin cells and bacteria, resulting in pimples. Getting rid of pimples, particularly on the neck, takes extra care.

Different types of scarring form as a result of acne outbreaks. Scars can either be indentations in the skin or raised fleshy growths, known as keloids. The acne scars which are indented, or pitted, are given various names, depending on the shape they form.

Often, you'll notice soreness and swelling before a zit actually appears on your face. If left unchecked, it may turn into a big pimple that won't go away for days or weeks. Pimples respond to treatment even before they've surfaced, so by acting fast, you can stop that blemish in its tracks.

Sulfur is present in a number of acne treatments, including face washes, creams, ointments and more. The element has been used historically for its antibacterial and skin cell turnover properties.

The University of Chicago Medical Center website reports that chronic acne frequently accompanies the rise in male sex hormones that occurs during puberty in both boys and girls. These hormones cause the sebaceous glands to increase oil production, which clogs the hair follicles and results in pimples and zits.

Pimples are often associated with puberty, when hormone levels are changing, but even adults can develop acne. KidsHealth.org describes a pimple as a skin pore that becomes clogged with sebum, a naturally occurring oil that lubricates the skin and hair.

The debate goes on in 2010: it seems that scientists and consumers continue to disagree that certain foods can prevent or cause acne and the brown spots that follow as scarring.

Many over-the-counter skin-care product lines tout their sulfur-based soaps as natural cures for acne. Unbiased scientific evidence, however, does not always point to sulfur as the best treatment option for acne, though sulfur has certain properties that can help in the skin condition.

Aggravating acne and its subsequent scarring can plague those prone to breakouts throughout adolescence and into adulthood, but using specific facial products can help blemished skin clear over time.