What Causes Acne?

Acne is a widespread dermatological problem, crossing gender, race, ethnic lines and national borders. Close to 100% of people ages between twelve and seventeen have at least an occasional whitehead, blackhead or pimple. Acne affects more than 90% of all adolescents, nearly 50% of all adult women and 25% of all adults.

Many of those who suffer from acne manage to resolve their problems with over-the-counter medication, soaps, lotions or creams, but there are still a lot of young people for whom acne is a more serious issue especially by their mid-teens, when over 40% of them require physician treatment.

Acne is known as the inflammation of the sebaceous glands and it is localized mainly at the face level, but on other body areas too - like the chest, neck, hands or back region. Those who have to confront acne also have to endure the psychic discomfort tied to the fact that they cannot control this dermatological problem.

The exact cause of acne is unknown, but doctors believe it results from several related factors, which are out of your control. Acne could be transmitted genetically, but this idea has not been yet proven. Studies have shown that many school-age boys with acne have a family history of the disorder.

In most cases acne appears because of some hormonal changes during puberty (androgens - male sex hormones- increase in both boys and girls during puberty and can cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum), but it can also occur in adulthood, on a sebaceous skin which makes contact with impurities. A food diet rich in fats can be a possible cause of acne, but this "guilt" could be over evaluated. Bacteria are a common cause of acne, which can become a real problem if it is neglected.

There are also certain types of acne that may appear due to allergic reactions to foods, medication and other substances. Also, 2 to 7 days before having their menstrual cycle, girls and women may experience acne problems because of hormonal level changes. Moreover, pregnancies or starting/stopping using birth control pills can also cause acne. In addition, some drugs (androgens, barbiturates), are known to cause acne. In the case of women, the use of certain greasy cosmetics may in fact alter the cells of the follicles, making them stick together.

But there are also certain factors that can worsen acne: pollution and high humidity, the friction caused by leaning on or rubbing the skin or the pressure from bike helmets, backpacks, or tight collars, squeezing or picking at blemishes, hard scrubbing of the skin can. As hard to believe it may sound, stress could also aggravate your disorder, particularly severe emotions and tension. It is important to keep in mind that it is not your fault that you suffer from acne. The best way to fight against it is to know what causes it and set up a 'plan of attack'.