Acne - What Causes Acne?

Acne Peel

There are many myths and misunderstandings about what exactly causes acne. Most people mistakenly believe that it is produced oily skin, acne, or worse, bad skin and greasy hair. None of this is true. In fact, acne starts inside the body - not the outside.

Acne Peel

Although there are many causes of acne are the biggest culprit is producing too much sebum. Sebum is designed to moisturize and protect skin, but when the hormones start to change -such as when puberty sets in - too much sebum may be produced. When this happens, cells that are close to the surface of the skin become blocked and fill up with oil, which brings on bacteria, which eventually causes that particular area of the skin to become inflamed.

Acne Peel

Now, that inflammation can present itself in various ways, depending on where it occurs. If the excess oil makes it really close to the surface of the skin, it becomes what we call a whitehead. If that whitehead is oxidized, it becomes a blackhead. If the oil is deep in the skin, it could become a cyst. If the oil is close enough to the surface, but not close enough to become a whitehead, it will become a pustule. If it is a bit further away from the skin, it causes a pimple.

Acne Peel

Although it was always thought to be a myth, we now know that acne does have some genetic qualities, meaning that it can actually be inherited. We also know that while stress doesn't cause acne, severe stress can bring on an outbreak in people who already have acne. Hormonal changes can also bring on acne, because the sebum production is increased. Generally, if cosmetics cause acne, it is due to an allergic reaction to the cosmetic.

It is a proven myth that food does not cause acne - not chocolate, not pizza, not fried foods. It has also been proven that dirt is not the cause of acne. These two myths have been researched for years, and the findings are undeniable. Again, acne starts on the inside, with the overproduction of sebum. There are certain things that can create an atmosphere where there is an overproduction of sebum as well - such as extreme stress.

Acne - What Causes Acne?

Acne Peel