What Really Causes Acne? The sad truth, as with many other diseases and health conditions, is that no one is really sure what causes acne.
Of course, there are tons of theories and just about everyone you talk to has an idea or opinion.
Still, a single cause of acne has yet to be discovered.
What IS know are the factors that increase the risk of acne occurring.
By understanding these risk factors - the things that are believed to be the causes of acne - you can take action to either reduce the risk of developing acne or prevent it altogether.
A popular belief held by many researchers is that genetics play a major role in causing acne.
Links between genetics have been established by some studies.
However, this does not mean that acne is an inherited disorder.
What the research strongly suggests is that the risk of acne increases for those whose parents were also afflicted with acne.
Acne and Those Raging Hormones Hormones are implicated as an integral cause of acne as witnessed by teens struggling through puberty.
Sebaceous glands are over-stimulated during puberty.
This produces androgens.
As a result, too much sebum mixes with accumulated dead skin cells, blocking pores, attracting bacteria and forming the lesions known as acne.
It is believed that any affection that triggers hormonal changes, whether it is puberty, pregnancy, menstruation, or menopause - augments the risk of developing acne.
Some treatments are thought to affect sebum production that thus lower the skin's ability to efficiently excrete wastes.
This is why some prescription medications list acne as a side effect.
Are Acne Cleansers Really the Solution? Dermatological solutions containing large molecules block pores rather than be absorbed by the skin also increasing the risk of forming acne pustules.
By far the worst culprits are products containing mineral oils and other by-products from the petro-chemical industry.
While they leave the skin feeling silky smooth in the short term, the residue that is not absorbed sits on the surface blocking pores and follicles.
Acne can also be triggered by an over-enthusiastic use of harsh skin cleansers, lotions, scrubs and creams.
Products containing alcohol will dry out the skin.
This further stimulates the production of sebum which, as we already stated above, is considered to be one of the prime causes of acne.
Harsh scrubs and exfoliants can allow bacteria to penetrate the surface of the skin and cause infection.
Acne Can Rub You the Wrong Way Yet another cause of acne is excessive friction.
Friction from clothing or equipment can cause dead skin cells to block pores, restricting the natural flow of sebum.
Heat generated from this friction encourages the pores to relax, thereby trapping more skin cells and creating even larger barriers.
With this in mind, it's easy to see how an area of the body can rapidly become susceptible to acne.
Contact with pollutants, detergents, toxins and chemicals can cause a form of contact acne.
Anything which can come into contact with the skin and which is likely to block pores and follicles is included here.
Stop Picking On Me! Toxins and bacteria can spread underneath the skin due to the damage to follicle walls simply by picking pimples and squeezing blackheads.
Picking at pimples can also leave open wounds through which bacteria can rush in causing or worsening infection.
Even though no one particular food has been identified as a cause of acne it may well be worth your time and trouble to keep a diary to see if there are any food groups which seem to negatively effect your acne.
Best Acne Advice By themselves, none of these factors can claim to be the only causes of acne.
However, there is enough evidence showing that they can increase the risk of an acne attack.
The best advice is to seek professional acne help for serious cases and to eliminate the most likely causes of acne wherever possible.
Of course, there are tons of theories and just about everyone you talk to has an idea or opinion.
Still, a single cause of acne has yet to be discovered.
What IS know are the factors that increase the risk of acne occurring.
By understanding these risk factors - the things that are believed to be the causes of acne - you can take action to either reduce the risk of developing acne or prevent it altogether.
A popular belief held by many researchers is that genetics play a major role in causing acne.
Links between genetics have been established by some studies.
However, this does not mean that acne is an inherited disorder.
What the research strongly suggests is that the risk of acne increases for those whose parents were also afflicted with acne.
Acne and Those Raging Hormones Hormones are implicated as an integral cause of acne as witnessed by teens struggling through puberty.
Sebaceous glands are over-stimulated during puberty.
This produces androgens.
As a result, too much sebum mixes with accumulated dead skin cells, blocking pores, attracting bacteria and forming the lesions known as acne.
It is believed that any affection that triggers hormonal changes, whether it is puberty, pregnancy, menstruation, or menopause - augments the risk of developing acne.
Some treatments are thought to affect sebum production that thus lower the skin's ability to efficiently excrete wastes.
This is why some prescription medications list acne as a side effect.
Are Acne Cleansers Really the Solution? Dermatological solutions containing large molecules block pores rather than be absorbed by the skin also increasing the risk of forming acne pustules.
By far the worst culprits are products containing mineral oils and other by-products from the petro-chemical industry.
While they leave the skin feeling silky smooth in the short term, the residue that is not absorbed sits on the surface blocking pores and follicles.
Acne can also be triggered by an over-enthusiastic use of harsh skin cleansers, lotions, scrubs and creams.
Products containing alcohol will dry out the skin.
This further stimulates the production of sebum which, as we already stated above, is considered to be one of the prime causes of acne.
Harsh scrubs and exfoliants can allow bacteria to penetrate the surface of the skin and cause infection.
Acne Can Rub You the Wrong Way Yet another cause of acne is excessive friction.
Friction from clothing or equipment can cause dead skin cells to block pores, restricting the natural flow of sebum.
Heat generated from this friction encourages the pores to relax, thereby trapping more skin cells and creating even larger barriers.
With this in mind, it's easy to see how an area of the body can rapidly become susceptible to acne.
Contact with pollutants, detergents, toxins and chemicals can cause a form of contact acne.
Anything which can come into contact with the skin and which is likely to block pores and follicles is included here.
Stop Picking On Me! Toxins and bacteria can spread underneath the skin due to the damage to follicle walls simply by picking pimples and squeezing blackheads.
Picking at pimples can also leave open wounds through which bacteria can rush in causing or worsening infection.
Even though no one particular food has been identified as a cause of acne it may well be worth your time and trouble to keep a diary to see if there are any food groups which seem to negatively effect your acne.
Best Acne Advice By themselves, none of these factors can claim to be the only causes of acne.
However, there is enough evidence showing that they can increase the risk of an acne attack.
The best advice is to seek professional acne help for serious cases and to eliminate the most likely causes of acne wherever possible.