The Possible Causes Of Acne

A most common complaint among young adults and teenagers is of course the dreaded acne and all of us would indeed like to know what the causes of acne are. It can be embarrassing to have to deal with acne and the resultant scar on a once perfect face. Many people would love to learn the exact causes. Here are some factors that have been attributed as causative factors.

Causes Of Acne

The main causative factor seems to be Sebum. Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands to keep healthy and moisturized. At times the sebum may be produced in excessive quantities due to hormonal imbalances during stages like puberty. The hormonal imbalance is caused due to liver malfunction that leads to the oil glands secreting more sebum than they should. This causes the hair follicles to get blocked, trapping of dead skin and production of excess sebum. Sometimes the follicle just gets clogged with excess sebum resulting in black/white heads where as if the clogged pore is infected by bacteria, some of which thrive extremely well in sebum; it may result in a skin eruption with pus in it resulting in acne. Hormonal imbalances may also occur during pregnancy, monthly menstrual cycle, when a woman starts or stops taking birth control pills etc.

One of the other causes of acne is heredity. It has been studied that children of parents who had acne problems are more prone to being afflicted with the condition themselves.

Another interesting causative factor is medication. It is said that anabolic steroids and certain drugs prescribed to epileptic patients as well as to those suffering from tuberculosis, androgens, barbiturates etc. can cause acne. Drugs that contain Lithium and iodine may also be the culprits.

Excessive pressure on the skin may also cause acne in some cases such as sports helmets, tight clothes etc. When pressure is combined with high humidity as well as friction acne may be inevitable in some patients.  It is also said that exposure to pollutants and chemicals such as chlorine may also be one of the causes of acne.

Excessive use of oil-based make-up and improper cleaning procedures may also cause the follicles to get clogged and result in an outbreak of acne. People with high levels of corticosteroids may also be susceptible to acne problems.

Moreover it is said but not with any definite proof that stress plays an important role in causing acne. The more a person is under stress, the more prone he or she is to acne.

It is also said that women who have polycystic ovaries suffer from acne problems too. Certain enzyme deficiencies may also be the causative factors in rare cases.

One of the other factors that can cause acne is said to be the diet. It is still under debate if it is one of the actual causes of acne but must be kept under consideration. People who consume excessive quantities of diary products such as cheese, butter, and clarified butter and consume excessive oily, fried foods may be more prone to get acne than those who avoid such foods. It is also debatable if bad personal hygiene plays a role. Some do believe that if the skin is kept clean and oil free by frequently washing with a mild medicated soap, acne problems may not arise.

These are the various factors attributed to be some of the causes of acne. Acne is not a major health problem but it does warranty medical attention especially if severe.