There are a lot of myths out there about what really causes acne. The fact of the matter is that many of the myths are misleading. The primary cause of acne is the abnormal development of a cell that leads to the hair follicle becoming plugged. The plugged follicle then ruptures and all of the oil and debris leaks into the skin where it causes swelling and redness. While this is what acne is, there are several different theories of what causes it to happen.
Bacteria are a common culprit and the most frequent cause of acne. It is normal for some bacteria to be on the skin but the bacteria are capable of producing irritants in the form of enzymes that can dissolve the oil from the glands in the skin, making irritation worse and perhaps causing acne to form.
It is also thought that hormones are also responsible for acne. ‘Androgens’ are a type of hormones, present in both men and women, and they are responsible for enlarging the sebaceous glands in the skin. The hormone also causes the glands to produce more oil, which can lead to the plugging of the cells. The bacteria in the skin feed on the increased oil, causing widespread acne problem in some people.
Estrogens are female hormones that may contribute to acne problems. The amount of estrogen that is secreted changes during the menstrual cycle, which is why many women struggle with acne around the time of her period.
Genetics is thought to be a contributing factor associated with acne. There has not yet been a scientific link, but many doctors recognize that acne runs in families regardless of what the individual tries to do to avoid the skin condition. Studies are currently being conducted to determine why acne runs in some families but not in others.
There are many people that think eating certain foods or not washing enough cause acne. While eating healthy and washing regularly definitely help to promote healthy skin, these things alone will not necessarily keep you from suffering from acne. The production of hormones and the presence of bacteria are not something that you can control, neither is a genetic predisposition.
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