The tiny oil glands below the surface of your skin are constantly producing small amounts of oil to keep your skin soft and flexible. These glands have tiny openings, or pores, on the surface of your skin to permit this oil to escape. Sometimes, however, these pores become clogged with wastes from skin cells and dirt from the air, and the oil cannot escape.
The oil then builds up inside the gland and causes it to swell and become irritated. To protect itself, the body sends its white blood cells to the area. They manufacture pus around the gland and produce a pimple.
