Do you ever wonder what all the acne causes are? There are so many myths and stories out there about all the acne causes. But science really hasn’t come to a defiant conclusion about the causes but we do know the way acne forms.

Acne is formed from the oil that comes out of the sebacious gland. Theses glands differ in size for each person. If you hear people saying they have “large pores” they are talking about these glands. These glands get enlarged during puberty and this is why teenagers have such a problem with acne.

Everybody secretes oil from these glands but there are some of us that produce a lot more then others. It can be because of your hormones, genetics, environment, stress and even what you eat. No, chocolate really doesn’t cause you to breakout.

Oil getting trapped in your glands and follicles is one of the acne causes. The oil can either come from your hands, your glands, your make-up, soaps or even the oil from cooking. (Gross!)

The hormone, testosterone, can make the oil production go into overdrive. Both girls and boys have testosterone so it can happen in girls as well as boys. Another one of the acne causes is dead skin that has worked its way into your hair follicles making them clog and then making acne form.

When you get a lot of oil in your hair follicles this will cause whiteheads and blackheads to form. Red pimple spots will form when bacteria grows in your hair follicles. So, if you pick or squeeze this kind of acne it can spread this bacteria and make more problems in other areas.

Inflammatory pimples show up under your skin and really these are cysts and that may never come to the surface. They can spread to other areas and cause life long scars.

There isn’t just one thing for acne causes there are really a lot of different reasons to what causes acne and usually it boils down to genetics or hormones. But, that doesn’t mean you should suffer from acne breakouts. You can ward off acne by taking good care of your skin.

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There are many different ways to cure acne and to help stop those awful breakouts. I have many tips and tricks that you can use to rid yourself of those awful pimples that plague you. Just visit http://www.howtogetridofacnefast.net for more information.

The most common problem that affected most of the world population is acne. It seems infection with acne is necessary in our lifetime and especially the probability to get acne is higher in certain stages. Mostly teenagers suffer severely with this problem. There are reasons for them to get infected by acne. Teenage is a time of our life when our physical orders mostly run by hormone and hormone secretion causes all the metabolic activities. In psychological view point, teenage is such a period when are most expressive and obsessed with our wishes. At such period we should better learn to stay healthy. To avoid acne and it causes, you firstly need to stay a clean and neat life. People with irregular showering and bathing often face acne as the dust deposited to their skin keep poring the oil glands of our skin. Your life style and living must be perfect in terms of keeping yourself clean and neat. It can be bathing or even getting your cloths free from dusts and dust particles. Another cause of acne is proper digestion capability. Many of us have developed an eating habit hereby we chew less the foods and gallop it directly to our tummy. This is not the perfect eating style. Whichever foods you should chew to its tiniest part, you must do that. If it is drink you are taking, you must ensure have some water as well. In adequate amount of water drinking causes most widely seen acne. Try to drink water as much as you are required. Due to physical activities like playing games or walking or shopping our body releases significant amount unnecessary and infectious elements in the form of sweating. These evaporated sweats must be replaced with fresh water. So, try to develop a drinking habit of fresh water. For some people the weather condition they live in can cause acne. It is mostly seen humid areas where the sun is hotter in summer and winter is cooler. If your surroundings got some natural water reservoirs and the weather hot, you are most likely to get acne. If you cannot get the rid from the causes of acne try to stay preventive by sleeping well and properly, controlling your food habit and proper dieting. Stay clean to get rid of acne. The causes of acne are mostly related with ourselves. All we need to get rid of acne is stay aware about these causes. Apparently, staying aware of acne causes are the healthy lifestyle. So try to live a healthy life instead of finding the causes of acne. A simple tip at the end.

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acne causes

If you are thinking it is too late to treat the causes of adult acne skin, then you should know that it is never too late. The sooner you start a habit of good skin care, the faster you will address the adult acne causes and reap the benefits. You can easily begin these five suggestions, today, to get the ball rolling.

First of all, during the hot, humid weather you should moisturize. The bright sunlight and breeze can be very drying, even aggravating the causes of adult acne. To raise hydration, apply an emollient-rich body lotion after your bath, while there is still a bit of water left on your skin.

Next, eat foods with antioxidants in to help heal damages done by causes of adult acne them each day. Red grapes, blueberries, carrots and spinach are excellent sources. You might like to try a simple spinach dip with stick shaped vegetables for a change of pace. Even mixing a few blueberries with your cereal, or dropping a bunch in your salad can really help prevent the causes of adult acne. Red grapes can make a quick snack anytime of the day and are easy to carry to work.

In addition, you may want to use a facial moisturizer with a SPF of 15, whether it is sunny or cloudy outside. Skin damaging rays can get through an overcast sky and effect the causes of adult acne directly. Why not add a pretty wide rimmed hat, for even more protection before you go outdoors. A hat not only shields the sun off your face, but keeps you cooler, reducing the dirt and sweat that may add to the causes of adult acne.

Also, you should drink a lot of water, throughout the day. Since our bodies are made mostly of water, it is only natural that it will quickly use the water to help clean the blood of toxins. Fresh, clean water can nourish the skin with oxygen and treat the impurity that causes adult acne. Water works is typically alkaline, which may help combat too much acid in our system, which may help it resist adult acne causes. Next time, when you feel thirsty why not reach for some of nature’s cure for keeping you cool?

Finally, no matter what, fight the causes of adult acne by always washing your face at night. Your skin needs to breath, without being clogged with makeup to be able to heal adult acne causes. Throughly remove all makeup and dirt. Then gently apply a very light moisturizer that won’t plug up your pores. You may want to avoid heavy oils that might aggravate the causes of adult acne. By smoothing on body lotion to your legs and arms just before you head to bed, puts moisture back that treatments for the causes of adult acne, may have removed, and makes a great way to unwind.

Why not give these adult acne skin care tips a test run? Even doing just one of the above suggestions could make a difference in healing the causes of adult acne, not to mention how youthful your skin can look. The causes of adult acne can be a persistent problem, but by following these tips, you just might improve your skin right away, not to mention for years to come.

About the Author

Tom Straub is a successful webmaster and writes articles on topics of health and fitness. Read more about Adult Acne Causes here.

INSTANT ACNE REMEDY

MAKE ACNE HEAL

ACNE 101Severe acne is inflammatory, However, it can disguise itself in non-inflammatory form too. The term acne comes from a corruption of the Greek UeiB which is, acne in the sense of a skin eruption, in the writings of Aetius Amidenus. Acne houses both non-inflammatory and inflammatory characteristics of swelling, irregularly shaped lumps on skin.

ACNE CAUSESIt is the same with cortisol which is a natural steroid produced by the body during times of intense stress. But beware; they cause acne. Both corticosteroids and cortisol can stimulate sebum production and lead to blemisheseven acne as well. They say that eating some kinds of food causes acne. Here are some known drugs which produce acne:

For epileptic patients, there is what we call anticonvulsants.

THE BIOLOGY OF ACNESome believe that small amounts of the sun exposure may initially improve acne. This can be pictured metaphorically as rainwater in the small holes on the ground. A clinical professor of dermatology once said, “Ninety percent of my patients complain about what stress does to their skin. You may be exposing most of your skin into it without your direct knowledge in it. These acne-hazardous areas are called comedogenic or pore-clogging substances. Sweat glands result into this work your adrenal glands did, as it produces more oil.

SOME COMMON MEDICATIONSMeanwhile, the redness caused by blush-on on your cheeks is derived mostly from coal tar- which may clog your pores too. This has been regarded as natural and healthy make-up ingredient for coloration. The latter are more likely to have pore-clogging ingredients. A major cause of irritation is sweet fragrances. Be wary too. More than ever, think about it What are the common things which will make your acne disappear? Drink lots of water Prepare a sumptuous and healthy balanced diet to eat

Well, what are the rules for keeping your skin’s health despite a constant application of make-up? Well, here they are:

Stay away from using penetrating oils. In fact, this was used years and years and years ago, ever since the Aztecs lived here on earth. They’re not Some examples like mineral oil, petroleum and sunflower oil do not permeate into the pore. Third, Vitamin B-3 improves blood flow, promoting healthy skin. However, most oils used in makeups can worsen your acne condition.

HOW ABOUT POPPING?If it doesn’t come out, never force it. With a gentle movement and a down-and-in motion, press from both sides. Most of these cases are considered by the dermatologists as an emergency, so they would be willing to attend you.

ACNE MYTHIt’s just “limit your sun exposure”. This makes us wonder what diet these indigenous people have in comparison to what we eat today. Myth:Stress generates acne. It is not that “don’t face the sun anymore. It may cause sun burn a sure skin damage.

HOW TO FACE THE PROBLEM IF YOUR FACE IS THE PROBLEMNo more phobias. Most of the time, the unbalanced hormonal occurrences in your body causes acne, making detriments to your skin. Now, closeness would never be hindered. Who knows? Probably you can be next man or woman to set onstage and to be envied for, just like an ugly duckling who turned to a swan. This program would help you build bridges with your loved ones, keeping them near with you all the time as you feel no insecurities or whatsoever about yourself. You wouldn’t have any doubts about the effectiveness of the product since you would get results easily.

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About the Author

Long time sufferer of acne…expert clinical research participant. Learn more attx http://kristymayo.acneremedy.hop.clickbank.net

Best answer:

Answer by Sophie
yeah chocolate does cause acne and also stress
keep off the fatty foods and use a basic face cream everyday and wash your face with tea tree facewash
also tea tree is really good for making spots go away so use them products because they worked for me
good luck

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Acne and pimples are known to be associated with prepubescent and teenaged populations but to our surprise adult acne is not uncommon. People who didn’t suffered from acne or any such bad skin problems in their teenage years are embarrassed and little confused to discover that they have been affected by adult acne just when they assumed they were free from acne for ever. They wonder that the acne is restricted to adolescents but the truth is that adult acne is very common. Figures show that nearly 40% of all acne cure products in the United States alone are bought and consumed by adults suffering from acne problems either from teenage age or when they were adult.

There are many reasons for the occurrence of acne problems. There is a myth about acne that it occurs because of poor personal hygiene which is not true. Acne problem is a result of hormonal imbalances or blocked pores on the skin in most of the cases including adult acne problems. The other cause of adult acne may be the infection of the sebaceous glands or faulty closing of the hair ducts on the face. Cure of acne depends on its condition and the skin type. Acne may be more or less depending on various factors. Embarrassed, confused and upset adults usually go to the local pharmacist to check for remedy of acne problem but this may actually cause more harm than good. Medicines and treatments created specifically to deal with acne among younger populations may not have the strength or the capability to deal with adult acne. The causes of adult acne may differ greatly as compared to the teenage problems.

Adult acne that seems similar to regular acne needs more strong medicines and treatment. Always consult a dermatologist if you are suffering from adult acne. Only a dermatologist can determine what caused the adult acne at this age. Treatment can be started once proper diagnosis is done. There may be a simple drug that might be able to eradicate the problem forever. Adult acne is more common than normally imagined but all adults with adult acne must remember that it is nothing to be embarrassed about. It is better to consult a dermatologist to get rid of this acne problem than to try luck at the local drugstore trying to find a diagnosis and a cure for your problem and who knows that may increase the problem and not to mention the side effects of unperceived medicine.

About the Author

Greg Culver is the owner of numerous health and fitness websites and has a keen interest in health and fitness. For information and articles go to: www.myfitnessdirectoryonline.com

Acne – Causes and Cures

It is the curse of teenagers around the world, but acne is caused by a combination of factors that aren’t related to age and can strike in your thirties as well as your teens. In fact acne is the most common skin disease and more than 85% of people between the ages of 12 and 24 suffer from some form of acne.So what causes this condition if it is not just hormonal?

Well contrary to popular belief acne is not caused by not getting washed properly or eating greasy food. In fact acne is caused by the clogging of the pores, which in turn prevents sebum,which is a characteristic oil, reaching the skins surface thus creating acne.

Now although we have pores all over our body acne mainly develops on those areas of the skin where we have the most sebaceous glands. Areas such as the face, scalp, neck, chest, back, and upper arms and shoulders. Unfortunately these are the areas where we least want to have this infliction as it can’t really be covered up, but as we have already discussed acne is not caused by dirt or surface skin oils, so what can we do to treat it?Well first of all lets get straight to the point and admit there is no magic cure for acne!But on the positive side there are numerous treatments for helping to prevent serious outbreaks, and getting these out breaks under control can in turn help to restore self-esteem and confidence.

As always as science and research of the human body progress then scientists will get better at understanding the mechanisms involved in acne. This in turn will mean that they can develop new treatments that work on those mechanisms. But as things stand at present, the vast majority of people are able to manage their skin acne with over the counter (non-prescription) acne treatments.

Whilst these treatments are good it seems to be that there is a trend for more and more people to turn to a more holistic approach to treat their acne, as less people are keen to apply chemicals direct to their skin and want a more natural remedy.But whilst acne cannot be prevented nor cured, both of these approaches to treatments do help to lessen the severity of the acne as well as to avoid scars and infection.

Whilst treatments can help, something that will not necessarily help is changing your diet,Through the years diet as well as hygiene have always been common topics surrounding the condition of acne, and after exhaustive scientific studies the conclusion is that there is no connection between diet and acne. To this end following a strict diet will not clear your skin. But that’s not to say you should not follow a healthy diet as eating a balanced diet always makes sense whether it helps your condition or not.And just because acne is caused by excessive oil secretions, changing your diet to exclude foods high in oil is not likely to help.

So there we have it, whilst many people still believe that acne is caused by dirty skin it is a fact that neither dirt nor diet actually causes acne. In reality, acne is caused by bacteria and oil on the skin and also the clogging of the pores.This all in turn prevents sebum reaching the surface thus creating acne. So while the old myths of having to severely scrub the affected area and changing your diet to exclude foods high in oil, in reality this is not likely to help and your best option is to go for a treatment either over the counter or natural.

About the Author

Having searched for years to find a natural remedy for his own acne Brad finally discovered http://www.acnefreedomin3days.comMake sure you check out the site and receive the excellent 5 part free report “The Five Secrets To Clearing Your Skin” by Chris Gibson. It is a life changer

For most, acne is a nightmare. For long-term acne sufferer, frequent outbreaks can have a huge impact on your professional and social, and appearance. Acne also causes low self-esteem and low confidence. Sad to say, there is no cure for acne although it is the most common skin problems. Having persistent acne is a gloomy reality for some. What are the common acne causes? Are there effective treatments and cures for the problem?

Managing Acne

A skin disorder known as acne vulgaris is caused by overactive oil glands which trap bacteria and result in blocked pores. These clogged pores in turn become whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, cysts, nodules, or lesions. All acne conditions are different. Some causes of acne can be managed. There are at least 4 acne causes: heredity, hormonal changes, diet, and stress.

Heredity is an acne cause that cannot be changed. Acne which is caused by hormonal changes, especially in women, can be controlled by birth control pills. In teenagers or young adults going through puberty, avoiding consumption of foods that contain sugar or white flour helps reduce insulin levels which affect the hormones. Avoid diets, such as processed foods, caffeine, carbonated beverages, fatty foods, and pasta. Eat plenty of vegetables and fresh fruits, drink plenty of water, and add natural and unprocessed foods to your diet can have great benefits to the skin.

The last acne cause, stress, can be managed too. It is beneficial to incorporate techniques of relaxation and exercises rather than allowing your work, boss, relationships, health issues, and time constraints to cause stress. Visualization, yoga, exercise, aromatherapy, and even hypnotherapy can reduce stress, and thus minimize acne breakouts.

If all else fails – managing stress, maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding the sun, plenty of rest, and a strict skin care regimen, to clear the acne, consult a dermatologist. They are able to prescribe topical or oral medications. The most successful acne treatments are retinoids and antibiotics. Dermabrasion, facials, and laser treatments are effective acne treatments as well. Acne causes change over time. Therefore, a treatment that works for teens may not work for stress-related adult acne, and vice versa. Acne treatments are something that one has to figure out what works for them.

If the above does not work, dermatologist may prescribe accutane. It is currently the only quasi acne cure. This popular medication effectively clears up acne in 60% of acne cases. However, it has potentially life-threatening side effects – birth defects and severe depression. Consult your doctor to determine if it is safe for you to take this prescription.

About the Author

Sylvia has been writing articles professionally, both online and offline, since 4 years ago. This author is not only writing in the subject of health, but also in dieting, fat loss, fitness and many other more. Check out her latest website in Poise Pads which discuss and review about Adult Briefs.

Best answer:

Answer by Carlos M
…No, Acne is not related to dietary habits–not even chocolate–

Add your own answer in the comments!

Causes, Cures, and Myths.

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Best answer:

Answer by Vadim
Raging hormones, stop taking birth control.

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Understanding and Identifying Your Acne

Acne is caused by an overactive oil glands which trap dirt and bacteria that results in clogging up your pores. The results of these clogged up pores manifest into pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, cysts, lesions and nodules.

Although acne can appear differently there are at least four recognizable acne causes. They are:

1 – Heredity

Due to heredity one is unable to change these characteristics and will have to make challenging adjustments to adapt to their existing condition.

2 – Changes In Ones Hormones

Women can see direct changes and can regulate it successfully with birth control pills. Other methods such as avoiding foods that contain white flour or sugar can positively affect hormone levels in young adults and teenager.

3 – Positive Effects of Diet

Alter your diet by avoiding caffine, processed foods, carbonated beverages, pasta and fatty foods. This might sound strict but you can control your acne causes. Don’t forget to drink plenty of fresh water, eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Also by staying away from unprocessed foods, you can positively improve your skin.

4 – Controlling Your Stress

By controlling your stress you will be able to manage the affects of your acne. Stop letting your boss, work, relationships, time commitments or health worries cause you to build up your stress in your life. Instead, try relaxation techniques and exercise to manage your stress. There are some excellent methods such as yoga, exercise, visualization, aromatherapy and hypnotherapy which can positively reduce your stress and outbreaks of acne.

Treatments For Acne

It is best to first try these natural treatments such as maintaining a healthy diet, control and manage stress, getting plenty of bed rest, staying out of the sun and following a strict skin care plan. However if you are not getting results that clear up your acne then perhaps you’ll need to try professional help.

Seeking help from a dermatologist is the best recommendation. He or she will be able to prescribe the right medications for your condition. Depending on the treatment, antibiotics and retinoids are the most successful. Treatments such as facials, dermabrasion and laser treatments are effective for minimizing or even reducing acne.

For quick solution for your acne, Accutane is a medication that your doctor can prescribe, although it has potentially life threatening side effects. It is considered a quasi-cure for acne. Although it has great 60% success rate, it does have side effects that include severe depression and birth defects. You will need to consult your doctor to see if this is the right medication for you

Important – Acne Can Change

Acne causes can potentially change over time. For example, a treatment that might work when you are a teenager might not work as you become an adult. Therefore it is important that you continue to search for the right treatment if it no longer becomes effective and your dermatologist can help you.

Best answer:

Answer by Rizo
Here i s an excellent site with some wonderful options for you. It will definitely help you. Have a look. http://medical-clinic-information.notlong.com/?q=accutane&qid=20090629210657AAiML1S

Add your own answer in the comments!

Best answer:

Answer by Hawkster
Usually the cause is oily skin, especially during the teenage years. I used to wash my face every day with Ivory soap. It’s 99.44 percent pure soap, so it’ll dry your skin out. Then, whenever I had a small breakout, I would use a tinted acne medicine, like Oxy 10. Worked like a charm.

Add your own answer in the comments!

Back acne can be caused by sweat, dirt and residue being rinsed off the hair and an unhealthy diet, so eating better, drinking plenty of water and washing the back last in the shower will help prevent back acne. Discover more about acne that can occur on the back, sometimes without a direct cause, with helpful information from a clinical aesthetician in this free video on skin care. Expert: Keeley Selvage Contact: www.keeleysskinsolutions.com Bio: Keeley Selvage has been in the skin care industry for over five years. Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Acne is not caused by eating fatty foods or chocolate.  In fact one of the principal treatments for acne is best taken with fatty foods. Acne is not diet related, irrespective of what you might have heard or read on even fairly authoritative websites. Nor is it related to genetics and it cannot be passed from one person to another.  It is not a disease but a skin condition, though bacterial activity is a significant factor.

We know enough about acne causes to break it down into three specific areas. These can be better understood if you first understand what acne is.  Irrespective of the type of acne, or how deep into your skin it goes, it is basically caused by a sticky plug of oily sebum and dead skin cells blocking up your follicles and skin pores, and becoming infected by bacteria.

The bacteria triggers your immune response that not only releases macrophages to kill the bacteria and form what you know as pus, but also sets off the inflammatory response that causes the inflammation, swelling and pain of the pustules. All of these reactions are intended to kill off the bacteria, but they also cause you pain and distress as a result.

Let’s take each of these three components (sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria) in turn, and consider how they are themselves caused.

Sebum
Sebum is a natural skin oil, which is generated by the sebaceous glands, and it both protects and waterproofs your skin and hair. Its production is accelerated by hormonal activity after puberty. The hormones responsible are believed to be the androgens, or male hormones, present in both men and women, but much higher in men.

The effect of androgens is to enlarge the sebaceous glands and also to increase the production of sebum. The sebum can mix with dead skin cells inside a hair follicle and forms a plug in the follicle (pore). The increase in sebum accelerates the formation of plugs in the pores, and also speeds up the multiplication of the bacteria on your skin.  The plug can also rupture the follicle, and release its contents into the body of the skin itself.

Female hormones can help to ease the symptoms of acne, which is why the severity of an acne attack in a girl or woman can change during her menstrual cycle in accordance with the relative amounts of androgen and estrogen in her body.

Skin Cells
Skin is a living organ of your body, composed of individual skin cells.  These have a short life, and your skin surface renews itself every two or three weeks.  The dead skin cells generally get washed off, but they can also form in the pores of your skin and mix with the sebum to form a gooey mass. You can help to avoid this through regular use of an exfoliating body scrub, using a mild version for your face. You can also use Vitamin A treatments to flake your dead skin off, again helping to prevent it from mixing with the sebum.

Bacteria
Bacteria grows naturally on your skin, and normally do no harm as long as they are not of a dangerous kind.  The bacterium responsible for acne is known as Propionibacterium acnes, and produce substances that initiate your immune system. They can infect the sebum and skin cell plug in a pore or follicle, cause inflammation and the formation of pus through the action of your immune response.

A good antibacterial soap will help to prevent this from happening, and an antibiotic can often relieve the more painful symptoms of acne and the inflammation.

Finally, what causes the different types of acne? Non-inflammatory acne cause blackheads (known as open comedomes) and whiteheads (closed comedomes), while inflammatory acne forms pustules and papules. Blackheads are caused by a plug enlarging inside an open follicle, and the black color is due to the infected sebum reacting with air and the skin pigment melanin (not dirt!).

A whitehead is formed in the same way, but the pore remains closed.  The white pus is caused by dead white blood cells that have been fighting the bacteria as a result of the immune response to the chemicals they have emitted.  It is not so much the bacteria themselves that cause the problem as the toxins that they produce. 

The more inflammatory papules and pustules are formed in a similar way, but deeper within the skin, with the pores being plugged much deeper down. These can cause scarring if left untreated, the most severe scarring occurring from nodules that have ruptured beneath the surface of the skin.

Although the actual reasons for the onset of acne are unknown, the reason why acne causes the symptoms that you experience are well known and the treatment you receive basically depends on those symptoms or form of acne that you develop.  With proper care and treatment, there is a good chance that your acne condition can be managed successfully.

Acne causes related to some inner problems in human bodies:

The unbalanced hormonal condition. Therefore, when women are having menstruation or being in pregnancy, generally they suffer from severe acnes problems. Besides, certain hormone can cause a dramatically messy regulation in the production of sweat and oils which destroys the skin’s pores form.
The over productivity of sebaceous glands of which function is to make oily surface on skins. This sebaceous is actually useful for keeping your skin smooth. Such over productivity of it that is usually caused by hot meals such as chilly makes the sebaceous produces excess sebum that in the next process will create the uninvited skin problem including acnes.

Acne causes related to outer factors of human body:

Infectious bacteria on sensitive individuals that will result badly on the oily hair follicles in human skin.
Related to more chemical substance especially for those who have to interact with chemical pollution for a long period of time.
Related to the foods consumed. Some foods can affect the production of skin’s oil and sebum. Thorough skin cares and avoids acne causes are therefore urgently needed for a clean skin. Such effort will help you free from acnes along with their causes that might threaten you at anytime and anywhere.

Acne is not caused by eating fatty foods or chocolate.  In fact one of the principal treatments for acne is best taken with fatty foods. Acne is not diet related, irrespective of what you might have heard or read on even fairly authoritative websites. Nor is it related to genetics and it cannot be passed from one person to another.  It is not a disease but a skin condition, though bacterial activity is a significant factor.

We know enough about acne causes to break it down into three specific areas. These can be better understood if you first understand what acne is.  Irrespective of the type of acne, or how deep into your skin it goes, it is basically caused by a sticky plug of oily sebum and dead skin cells blocking up your follicles and skin pores, and becoming infected by bacteria.

The bacteria triggers your immune response that not only releases macrophages to kill the bacteria and form what you know as pus, but also sets off the inflammatory response that causes the inflammation, swelling and pain of the pustules. All of these reactions are intended to kill off the bacteria, but they also cause you pain and distress as a result.

Let’s take each of these three components (sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria) in turn, and consider how they are themselves caused.

Sebum
Sebum is a natural skin oil, which is generated by the sebaceous glands, and it both protects and waterproofs your skin and hair. Its production is accelerated by hormonal activity after puberty. The hormones responsible are believed to be the androgens, or male hormones, present in both men and women, but much higher in men.

The effect of androgens is to enlarge the sebaceous glands and also to increase the production of sebum. The sebum can mix with dead skin cells inside a hair follicle and forms a plug in the follicle (pore). The increase in sebum accelerates the formation of plugs in the pores, and also speeds up the multiplication of the bacteria on your skin.  The plug can also rupture the follicle, and release its contents into the body of the skin itself.

Female hormones can help to ease the symptoms of acne, which is why the severity of an acne attack in a girl or woman can change during her menstrual cycle in accordance with the relative amounts of androgen and estrogen in her body.

Skin Cells
Skin is a living organ of your body, composed of individual skin cells.  These have a short life, and your skin surface renews itself every two or three weeks.  The dead skin cells generally get washed off, but they can also form in the pores of your skin and mix with the sebum to form a gooey mass. You can help to avoid this through regular use of an exfoliating body scrub, using a mild version for your face. You can also use Vitamin A treatments to flake your dead skin off, again helping to prevent it from mixing with the sebum.

Bacteria
Bacteria grows naturally on your skin, and normally do no harm as long as they are not of a dangerous kind.  The bacterium responsible for acne is known as Propionibacterium acnes, and produce substances that initiate your immune system. They can infect the sebum and skin cell plug in a pore or follicle, cause inflammation and the formation of pus through the action of your immune response.

A good antibacterial soap will help to prevent this from happening, and an antibiotic can often relieve the more painful symptoms of acne and the inflammation.

Finally, what causes the different types of acne? Non-inflammatory acne cause blackheads (known as open comedomes) and whiteheads (closed comedomes), while inflammatory acne forms pustules and papules. Blackheads are caused by a plug enlarging inside an open follicle, and the black color is due to the infected sebum reacting with air and the skin pigment melanin (not dirt!).

A whitehead is formed in the same way, but the pore remains closed.  The white pus is caused by dead white blood cells that have been fighting the bacteria as a result of the immune response to the chemicals they have emitted.  It is not so much the bacteria themselves that cause the problem as the toxins that they produce. 

The more inflammatory papules and pustules are formed in a similar way, but deeper within the skin, with the pores being plugged much deeper down. These can cause scarring if left untreated, the most severe scarring occurring from nodules that have ruptured beneath the surface of the skin.

Although the actual reasons for the onset of acne are unknown, the reason why acne causes the symptoms that you experience are well known and the treatment you receive basically depends on those symptoms or form of acne that you develop.  With proper care and treatment, there is a good chance that your acne condition can be managed successfully.

Most common acne causes

Acne Causes #1 – Hormones play a major role in deciding how our skin looks. The body starts to produce hormones at the age of puberty. Abnormality in hormones can be a cause of acne. The hormone Androgen is related to acne breakouts.

Acne Causes #2 – P. acne Bacteria. This bacteria is a natural resident in human skin. It plays an important role in maintenance of the skin. P. acne bacteria can be the cause of ance of they multiply rapidly and result in the inflammation of the skin.

Acne Causes #3 – Inflammation. Inflammation can occur due to bacteria, hormones, excess oil on the skin from sebaceous glands. Inflammation near the skin surface results whiteheads, blackheads or a lump filled with pus.

Acne Causes #4 – Stress & Pressure. Stress does not cause acne individually, but when combined with other factors like lack of sleep, improper diet can be a cause of acne.

Acne Causes #5 – Clogged pores, dirt, dead skin cells. Dirt and dead skin cells can result in clogged pores on the skin. If the pores on the skin are blocked, the skin can not sweat, beathe easily which restricts it’s abilty to move out the heat. This becomes a cause of acne. Wash acne affected skin several times a day to get rid of acne.

Acne Causes #6 – Cosmetics. some oil based cosmetics causes the pores on the skin to be clogged which results in acne outbreaks. Hence it is advised to avoid excessive usage of cosmetics and it is better to use water based cosmetics as they do not block the pores.

Some Factors that do not cause acne

* Chocolate. Contrary to the popular belief that chocolate causes acne, there is no scientific proof that chocolate is one of the causes of acne.

* Sex/Masturbation. This is one of the myths surrounding many people around the globe. Acne is not caused due to sex or masturbation.

* Heredity. It is a common misconception that if your parents had acne, you will have acne too. Acne is not a hereditary problem and there is no proof that supports this claim.

We hope that these acne causes will help you to get rid of acne fast. Once you know what is the cause of your acne, it will be easier to treat your acne.