What Causes Acne?

There are several factors that cause acne, with the main one being considered the level of androgen hormones present at puberty. The excessive sebum produced in the hair follicles combined with increased turnover of skin cells around the follicles are the immediate causes.

Sebum is produced in order to help remove dead cells from hair follicles and lubricate and protect the skin. Excessive sebum makes such cells gather and block the openings of the hair follicles. Such blockages lead to blackheads and milder forms of acne.

Bacteria that are present on the surface of the skin can infect the blocked follicles and the result is acne in its various forms.

General Causes Of Acne

Besides the increased sebum production within the skin pores and the blockages caused by dead skin cells, bacteria can multiply in the plug thus created and cause inflammation. Acne is associated with increased hormonal activity which occurs at puberty and during menstrual cycles. Increased male hormones during puberty make the follicular glands grow and produce more sebum.

There are also genetic causes underlying this condition. Family history of acne can be responsible for earlier occurrences of acne and a larger number of acne lesions. There have been associations between acne and stress, and the degree of severity is related to increased stress levels. A diet with in milk and sugar can also be responsible for acne. Chocolate and salt have been associated with occurrence of acne but there is not enough evidence to strongly support such an assumption.

For Teenagers

During puberty male hormones are secreted at higher levels, stimulating the development of penis and testicles in boys and helping girls to maintain muscle and bone strength. These hormones trigger the production of sebum in a quantity that exceeds normal requirements of the skin.

For Adults

The vast majority of acne cases in adults occur with women. The varying levels of hormones present in the female body at different stages on life are responsible for cases of acne at a later age.

Precipitating factors in Acne

• Blocked spores can be caused by cosmetics, use of oils and greases or hairsprays. Humidity, sweating or wearing damp clothes can be causes of blockages in skin pores
• Certain types of medication are responsible for increasing the oil production of glands and eventually result in blocked pores. Anabolic steroids and progestin are drugs that are known to cause acne
• Cleansing the skin too often and even frequent sneezing can damage the skin tissues and accelerate inflammatory process that complicate acne
• Menstruation is one of the most frequent causes triggering acne. Two to seven days before the onset of menstrual cycle, new acne spots tend to develop even in adult women.