What Are The Causes Of Acne?

If you are suffering from acne you would want to know the causes of acne. Many will vouch that pimples have the knack of cropping up just when there's a momentous occasion round the corner!

Adolescents are of course familiar with the embarrassment of having pimples. However, teenagers are not the only ones who suffer from pimples. Acne affects nearly everyone irrespective of their race, color, nationality and gender. Persons between the ages of 12 to 30 usually suffer from this skin condition. Nevertheless some adults in their forties and fifties may also get acne. These usually occur on the face, chest and back.

What Is Acne And How Is It Formed?

This common skin ailment is characterized by the presence of one or more of the following: whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, nodules, cysts, greasy skin or scars.

Pimples form due to the clogging up of the skin's pores. There are many sebaceous glands beneath the skin's surface that produce an oily substance called sebum. This sebum is produced to keep the skin supple. The sebum travels to the surface of the skin through the pores of the skin. Each pore has a hair follicle. The skin rejuvenates itself by shedding old skin cells. At times the hair follicle and these cells together block the entrance of the pore. In such a case the sebum accumulates beneath the skin to form pimples. The accumulation of the sebum provides ideal conditions for the bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes) found in the skin to flourish rapidly. This causes the white blood cells to react thus resulting in an inflammation in the area.

What Are The Causes Of Acne And What Makes It Worse?

No one has been able to pinpoint the exact reason for the occurrence of acne. However several theories have been propounded. The most common and accepted theories are as follows:

• Heredity:

If your parents have had acne, chances are high that you would also suffer from this skin condition.

• Overactive sebaceous glands:

During adolescence the increased levels of hormones (androgen) can cause the sebaceous glands to produce more oil. This could result in acne.

• Medicines:

Certain medicines containing steroids can cause acne as a side effect.

In some situations the occurrence of pimples may increase. These situations could be:

• The hormonal fluctuation that occur during the menstrual cycle
• Stress
• Using oily cosmetics and skincare products
• Treating the skin roughly by scrubbing it hard or washing it too often
• Picking at the pimples
• Pollution and climatic conditions like humidity

Preventing the occurrence of acne is not in your hands. However, now that you know the causes of acne, you can avoid situations that make it worse.