Acne –
All You Need to Know

If you are suffering from acne, you are not alone.

In fact, almost everyone is affected by acne at some point in time in their life.

Statistics show that better than 90% of teens deal with acne in some form, and more than ¼ of all adults deal with acne as well.

No matter what gender you are or race, acne is a medical condition that crosses all lines and it is actually one of the most common medical conditions across the world today, which probably makes you wonder why there is still no cure for it.

However, it is important to realize that there is hope for treating acne.

Although there is not yet a cure, there are many treatments for the problem, especially since we now know more about it than ever before.

Before you can figure out what acne treatment is going to work well for you, it is important that you figure out what causes acne and how it all gets started. You can also read about acne myths here.

The Causes of Acne

So, what actually causes acne?

This is an important question, and you need to fully understand the answer to the question.

There are actually a variety of different things that can cause acne, so let’s take a closer look at them.

Cause #1 – Hormones –

One of the main causes of acne, especially for teens, is hormones.

During puberty the body starts to produce androgens, which are hormones.

This causes the sebaceous glands to get bigger, which is natural; however, for those who deal with acne, the sebaceous glands can actually be over stimulated.

So, often androgens are responsible for acne problems in teens, during pregnancy, and even in women in association with their menstrual cycle.

Cause #2 – Overproduction of Sebum –

Another cause of acne is the overproduction of sebum.

Often androgens cause the sebaceous glands to produce extra sebum, which when combined with dead skin cells and bacteria, can lead to clogged pores and acne.

Cause #3 – Dead Skin Cells –

Yes, dead skin cells can be the culprit too.

Usually dead skin cells shed onto the surface of the skin gradually, but when the sebaceous glands are overactive, dead skin cells shed quite rapidly.

When the dead cells mix with bacteria and sebum, they can plug up the follicle and get in the way of proper skin renewal.

Cause #4 – Bacteria –

Bacteria can also be a cause of acne.

You’ll find that all types of skin have what is known as P. acnes and they help to maintain the sebum system.

However, when the follicles get plugged up, these bacteria start to rapidly multiply, which causes inflammation.

Cause #5 – Infection and Inflammation –

Whenever you deal with bacteria that is unwanted by the body, white blood cells are sent to work, and this causes inflammation.

The inflammation is what causes your pimples to get swollen, red, and tender.