Understanding What Causes Acne Can Help Avoid Outbreaks


Before a person can choose the best acne treatment for them, they should understand what causes acne. By knowing it cause not only will they have a chance to combat a current outbreak, they may be able to avoid future outbreaks. Why some people are more prone to outbreaks is unknown but testosterone is often cited as a major player in what causes acne.

Contrary to popular belief, fatty foods and chocolate are not what causes acne, and infrequent cleansing cannot be blamed either, however not keeping areas prone to acne outbreaks clean can spread the bacteria that helps acne grow. Essentially, it is a blocked pore in which bacteria forms that causes the outbreaks. Despite attempts at prevention, there are some reasons blamed for acne that may be difficult to control.

Hair follicles are adjacent to the sebaceous glands, which produce an oily substance secreted through a small tube through which the hair grow. This substance also helps lubricate the skin and research has shown that overactive sebaceous glands can produce too much sebum causing the opening to become blocked, which is what causes acne. Primarily, blackheads and pimples formed and for most, this is as far as the problem goes.

Understanding Triggers Of Sebaceous Activity

One of the primary causes of the sebaceous glands becoming overactive is hormone changes, which is what causes acne in teenagers. As they go through specific lifestyle changes, there is a large amount of testosterone produced, and the glands are instructed to produce more sebum. While that may not explain what causes acne in adults, other life-changing events can also cause acne outbreaks.

Pregnancy is another common cause as well as stressful situations. Some medications can also be what causes acne, especially steroidal medicines and eczema ointments. Additionally, oil-based cosmetics can block pores in the skin and if a person is prone to acne breakouts, they should only use water-based products. During the normal course of a day, dead skin and bacteria grow near the hair follicles and if left to grow, it can play a major part in what causes acne.

While pimples and blackheads are the weakest for of acne, in some individuals the infection will form under the skin and can grow in cysts. These infections are painful and squeezing them often will not eliminate the cyst, rather it can spread the infection causing more problems as well as leaving scars on the skin.

Back acne occurs much so like normal pimples that appears on other parts of your body and this usually happens when the pores of your skin becomes clogged. `

Zits Jerry Scott

There is really no medicine that can be added in order to speed up the effects of this drug, and in fact, acne will often get even worse during the first few months or so of treatment.

Acne causes blackheads, whiteheads, red or yellow spots on the skin, greasy skin, and even scarring, and it can thus be incredibly detrimental to ones self-esteem and self-confidence. Many people suffer from cystic acne, and many people have permanent scars from it that they must bear for the rest of their lives. In the meantime, you should still follow your doctors or dermatologists advice and continue taking any prescriptions. The general rule is that, if your problem is only slight, then over the counter products may very well work for you. As long as you follow the directions discussed here and simply take care of your skin in general, then you should not only be able to treat any existing acne problems that you may have, but as well prevent them from occurring in the future.