Whether you are 13 or 30, you can suffer from blemishes and skin breakouts - better known as acne.
Knowing and understanding what causes acne can help you better fight pimples, blackheads and whiteheads in order to keep your skin fresh and clear.
Acne affects more than 90% of adolescents and 25% of all adults.
Approximately 50% of all adult women are affected by acne.
Acne is one of the most widespread medical conditions worldwide and there is no known cure.
Acne is caused by the blockage of skin pores by oil.
The oil glands - or sebaceous glands - are located deep inside the skin.
The oil glands are connected to canals or follicles that lead to the surface of the skin.
These follicles contain a hair and the oil glands are designed produce oil - called sebum - to lubricate the hair follicle and the skin that surrounds it.
A pore, or pilosebaceous follicle, is the opening in the skin from the follicle.
The larger the oil gland, the larger the pore.
Hormones will stimulate the oil glands to produce sebum - specifically, male hormones known as androgens.
Androgens are also found in females, though in smaller amounts.
Androgens are produced by the testes, the ovaries and the adrenal glands.
Stress - both everyday stress and the stress caused by an unexpected and stressful event - can trigger the adrenal gland to produce excess androgens which in turn stimulate the oil glands.
Hormonal changes during puberty will also trigger excess oil from the sebaceous glands which explains why adolescents are especially prone to acne and skin blemishes.
So what causes acne? When an overactive oil gland enlarges and produces excess oil, oily skin is the result.
When a skin pore becomes blocked, the oil becomes trapped in the follicle causing the increased growth inside the pore of the normal skin bacteria Propionobacterium acnes.
The trapped bacteria will produce chemicals to alter the composition of the normal oil - which will then cause irritation and inflammation of the skin.
The inflammation is part of the body's natural process for fighting infection.
The result of this irritation and inflammation results in acne - pimples, whiteheads and blackheads.
Blackheads are formed when the pore is clogged close to the skin's surface.
Blackheads generally don't become inflamed due to their location close to the surface of the skin.
The dark coloration of blackheads is due to pigment, not dirt.
Whiteheads occur when there is a blockage deeper inside the pore.
Because the oil has no way to drain due to the blocked pore, it builds up.
This build up causes flesh-colored or white bumps.
Inflammation of whiteheads can lead to pustules or pimples.
Pustules (also known as pimples or zits) are caused by a rupture of the blocked follicle's walls.
This rupture allows oil, dead skin cells and bacteria to get inside the skin and cause inflammation and irritation.
While acne is primarily caused by a combination of hormones, oil, bacteria and dead skin cells, it can be aggravated by such things as cosmetics, hairsprays, hats, helmets, humidity, sweating and prolonged contact with damp clothing.
Certain medications such as anabolic steroids, birth control pills containing progestin, lithium and certain anti-seizure medications are believed to also aggravate or increase acne.
Knowing and understanding what causes acne can help you better fight pimples, blackheads and whiteheads in order to keep your skin fresh and clear.
Acne affects more than 90% of adolescents and 25% of all adults.
Approximately 50% of all adult women are affected by acne.
Acne is one of the most widespread medical conditions worldwide and there is no known cure.
Acne is caused by the blockage of skin pores by oil.
The oil glands - or sebaceous glands - are located deep inside the skin.
The oil glands are connected to canals or follicles that lead to the surface of the skin.
These follicles contain a hair and the oil glands are designed produce oil - called sebum - to lubricate the hair follicle and the skin that surrounds it.
A pore, or pilosebaceous follicle, is the opening in the skin from the follicle.
The larger the oil gland, the larger the pore.
Hormones will stimulate the oil glands to produce sebum - specifically, male hormones known as androgens.
Androgens are also found in females, though in smaller amounts.
Androgens are produced by the testes, the ovaries and the adrenal glands.
Stress - both everyday stress and the stress caused by an unexpected and stressful event - can trigger the adrenal gland to produce excess androgens which in turn stimulate the oil glands.
Hormonal changes during puberty will also trigger excess oil from the sebaceous glands which explains why adolescents are especially prone to acne and skin blemishes.
So what causes acne? When an overactive oil gland enlarges and produces excess oil, oily skin is the result.
When a skin pore becomes blocked, the oil becomes trapped in the follicle causing the increased growth inside the pore of the normal skin bacteria Propionobacterium acnes.
The trapped bacteria will produce chemicals to alter the composition of the normal oil - which will then cause irritation and inflammation of the skin.
The inflammation is part of the body's natural process for fighting infection.
The result of this irritation and inflammation results in acne - pimples, whiteheads and blackheads.
Blackheads are formed when the pore is clogged close to the skin's surface.
Blackheads generally don't become inflamed due to their location close to the surface of the skin.
The dark coloration of blackheads is due to pigment, not dirt.
Whiteheads occur when there is a blockage deeper inside the pore.
Because the oil has no way to drain due to the blocked pore, it builds up.
This build up causes flesh-colored or white bumps.
Inflammation of whiteheads can lead to pustules or pimples.
Pustules (also known as pimples or zits) are caused by a rupture of the blocked follicle's walls.
This rupture allows oil, dead skin cells and bacteria to get inside the skin and cause inflammation and irritation.
While acne is primarily caused by a combination of hormones, oil, bacteria and dead skin cells, it can be aggravated by such things as cosmetics, hairsprays, hats, helmets, humidity, sweating and prolonged contact with damp clothing.
Certain medications such as anabolic steroids, birth control pills containing progestin, lithium and certain anti-seizure medications are believed to also aggravate or increase acne.