What are the causes of Acne?

Acne There are many myths, rumours, and misconceptions about acne. The reasons why some people get acne and some don’t is relatively unknown. It is known to be partly hereditary. Believe it or not, there really is no one factor that causes acne!

We may not know exactly why acne happens, but we do know that acne happens when the oil or sebaceous glands start working in puberty. The glands become stimulated by hormones from the adrenal glands of both male and females. The oil from the gland is needed to lubricate and protect the skin. When cells that are close to the surface block the openings of the sebaceous glands there is a build-up of oil underneath. This in turn stimulates bacteria to multiply and cause the surrounding tissue to become red and inflamed. It should be noted that everyone has bacteria living in their skin, and under normal circumstances causes no problems!.

Pustules (zits) are the resulting inflammation right near the surface of the skin. If it’s deeper, it is a papule (pimple). Go even deeper and you’ve got your self a cyst. If the oil is able to break through to the surface it is called a white head, and if that oil reacts to the oxygen in the air it becomes oxidized (turning black) and becomes a blackhead.

Let’s look at some aggravating factors that can contribute to acne:
Stress: There have been many reports that acne gets worse during times of stress, however this too has not been proven to be a cause of acne.
Food: There are many folks out there who feel that certain foods make their acne worse or even cause their acne. Although there is no scientific evidence that food can cause acne, feel free to avoid those dishes or delights you feel make your acne worse.
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