The Reason For Your Acne
One of the best weapons in the fight against acne is knowledge; if you know what causes acne, it’s easier to formulate a good plan of attack. It makes sense that acne tends to be associated with teens. Over 85% of them start to have to deal with the problem, which is a nuisance. During this stage of life hormone levels increase along with androgen in both males and females.
The largest increases occur on the back and upper chest and unfortunately on the face. This happened because the sebaceous glands are now actively producing sebum. We actually need sebum, because this natural oil is found in hair follicles. If the excess oil is washed off using soap and water, or alcohol it doesn’t present a problem. But, still the excess oil may cause blackheads.
The problem gets worse when your pores close and become stopped up from excess sebum. Next, whiteheads can form, which can burst from increasing pressure. That causes the bacteria to get on the outside of your face, where it gets spread around. Finally, the bacteria can create pus and inflammation, which will cause acne.
So, have you ever wondered how much stress can affect your acne? Let’s take a look, because stress seems to be a normal part of life, you can’t get rid of it. Fortunately, stress by itself doesn’t produce acne, but it can make it worse because the immune system gets pulled down, and then your body is not able to fight the bacteria that are causing your acne. But, it isn’t a major factor.
Another question that I have been asked is how much influence do illegal drugs have on acne. First, if you are taking illegal drugs, you just need to stop! If you don’t you are going to have worse problems than acne. But, let’s see what the dermatologist had to say. I was told that anabolic steroids can be a major contributor toward acne, as well as barbiturates and tetracycline.
Is genetics an area of concern in the acne arena? It may have an effect, but it hasn’t been proven by concrete drug studies yet. But, acne can be inherited. And, that’s partly due to life in the home.
I’m often asked the following question. And, people are always surprised by my answer. How much do my eating habits affect my acne? Actually, greasy foods will not cause greasy skin. Also, some foods that you would think would have a big effect, like soft drinks, chocolate, and greasy cheeseburgers, will not impact your acne growth. If you are eating a food that increases production of sebum (oil) or a specific type of hormone that will certainly cause problems.
Sebum (oil) and hormones are the two major factors that really cause acne. All the products out there work on the principle of controlling the sebum and keeping the pores unclogged. During the teen years, there is more activity with the hormones which in turn cause the sebaceous glands to secrete more oil. When this mixes deep in the pores with bacteria and the pores become clogged, the result is acne.
