Acne- it seemingly appears from nowhere and it can affect everyone, but what causes acne? Anyone who has been through puberty can attest that those pimples, zits, acne can be certainly annoying especially when one begins to appear before a previous one vanishes completely. Acne is typically defined as a reddish, irritating rash on the skin that is typical throughout puberty. However, it is not limited to that stage in one’s life because acne can occur at ages way past puberty. Areas of the body usually affected by acne include the face, chest and the back. Some individuals may also have cases of acne in their necks and upper arms.

Some Myths About the Causes of Acne

Because acne is such a widespread and almost unavoidable condition, many people have come up with many theories on as to how it starts out. In order for one to better understand acne, being aware of the facts when it comes to the causes of acne is crucial. One common misconception is the belief that acne is a result of the lack of proper hygiene. Many people are fast to believe that insufficient cleansing of the skin leads to the appearance of acne. This idea seems to have stemmed from the belief that excessive dirt on the skin and on the pores results in acne. On the contrary, excessive scrubbing may worsen pimples.

Another erroneous theory is that consumption of too much chocolate, pizza, French fries or other high-fat food items can lead to acne breakouts. Although some recent researches have discovered a certain link between certain food items and the severity of acne in a person, there is still no concrete evidence as of now that links any type of food item to acne causes. More research is still needed to establish the relationship between diet and acne.

The Real Deal

So after debunking some of the myths related to the causes of acne, one is surely left to ponder, what causes acne? Acne happens when oil and dead skin cells plug the hair follicles causing build-up of oil or sebum and dead skin cells that plug the follicles, and may develop into pimples once it becomes infected or inflamed. There are three major factors that are often cited for the formation of acne; overproduction of sebum, irritation of hair follicles by dead skin cells and bacterial buildup. While the exact causes of sebum overproduction have not been properly pinpointed, there are several factors that are known to play roles in acne. Briefly, these factors are bacteria, heredity, hormones and medication.

Propionibacterium acnes is the bacterium said to cause irritation and redness of the plugged hair follicles. Severe acne has also been known to run in families although the actual genetic factors responsible for this occurrence are still unknown. Androgens are hormones that are factors in causing acne. They enlarge the skin’s sebaceous glands and increase their oil production causing plug formation and providing bacteria more “food”. Lastly, certain medications may worsen or even cause acne. Research has shown that medications with bromides, steroids or iodides may in fact exacerbate acne in some individuals.

No one is prone from acne. And while preventing it from appearing is almost improbable, knowing what causes acne and being aware of the myths behind its causes will surely save one precious time and effort.

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Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: causes acne,skin cells,dead skin cells,dead skin,truth behind,hair follicles,acne causes