Causes of Acne
Living with acne can be difficult, so it is helpful to understand some of acne’s major causes. The more you understand about the condition, the better. With increased knowledge, you can take steps to help reduce symptoms, and for other causes, you can stop blaming yourself for things that are out of your control.
Here are the three most direct causes of acne. Below, we’ll discuss situations and factors that can exacerbate these three causes.
1. Plugged hair follicles/pores. Our skin regularly sheds dead cells in microscopic flakes—it’s perfectly natural. But those who suffer from acne are probably experiencing a bit more trouble than the normal shedding of dead skin. Inside the hair follicle, some people lose more cells than others. When those cells build up inside the follicle, the plug that follicle. Dirt can also contribute to plugged follicles. When this happens, skin cells and natural oil cannot escape naturally, and the follicle expands and becomes irritated. These are the blemishes that we often know as acne.
2. Bacteria. It’s also normal to have bacteria on your skin. We all do. But sometimes, this bacteria can get a little out of control, producing enzymes that feed on our skin’s natural oil, causing the oil to actually irritate the skin instead of lubricate it.
3. Hormones. Hormones called androgens create extra oil on the skin. Besides clogging the pores, this oil also feeds bacteria—a double-problem. Hormones surge during times of biological change (such as puberty and menstruation), which is why these times often coincide with increased acne symptoms.
These are the three most direct causes of acne, but there are many other things that can cause bacteria, blocked pores, and changes in hormones, as well. For example, stress levels can have an impact on how your hormones behave and even how much oil you produce. (Think about how people often get clammy hands when they are nervous.) While some tests dispute how much of a role stress has in acne, keeping your stress levels low can’t hurt—plus it’s good for you overall, anyway.
Some medications and prescription drugs may change your hormone levels or oil output. Read the labels of anything you have been taking to see if this is a known side-effect, and pay attention to skin changes that coincide with prescription use.
While some believe that diet can contribute to acne, this is not a universally accepted view. From sugars and fats to carbohydrates and chocolate, many foods have been labeled as acne-inducing. The best thing you can do is pay attention to what you eat, and as with stress, stick to a healthy diet because it’s good for you anyway. It couldn’t hurt.
