Not a child, but not yet and adult – this is how confusing and difficult puberty can sometimes get. At this stage, different bodily changes are taking place: increase in height, more pronounced body shape, and the appearance of acne. The sebaceous glands of the skin produces oil to keep it moisturized and protected but during puberty, hormonal imbalance kicks in, making the sebaceous glands more active in producing oil. Sebaceous glands are located inside hair follicles, the part of the skin where hair grows out. Hair follicles regularly shed off their outer lining, which is composed of dead skin cells and once these combine with oil, blackheads and whiteheads, collectively called comedones, appear. These comedones become inflamed when bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes enter the follicles, forming pimples or acne.
Low self-esteem and self-confidence are exhibited by acne sufferers because of the skin disorder’s attractive appearance. There have been reported cases of acne sufferers who isolate themselves from the public and develop depression and suicidal tendencies. Hence, it is very important to know the causes of acne and to fight against them. However, the causes of acne are not very clear and there have been misconceptions about it. Let us start debunking those myths and reveal and explain the true causes of acne to stop all these confusion once and for all.
It has been discussed that hormonal changes are one of the causes of acne and this is very common during teenage years but for some, this may persist even through adulthood. If you are already in your 20’s and is still troubled by acne, you should consult your dermatologist to confirm whether your hormonal imbalance is one the causes of acne.
Heredity is one of the causes of acne and this is true especially for those who suffer severe acne beyond their teenage years. Some are genetically predisposed to develop acne so if your mother, father, and/or relatives have their genes as one of the causes of acne, there are high chances that you too will be prone to it. So you better secure an appointment with your dermatologist to treat acne before it becomes severe.
Some skin products are one of the causes of acne specifically those that do not have the label ‘non-comedogenic’. They can block pores and cause pimples. In some cases, allergies to some ingredients of skin products are known to be one of the causes of acne. Be sure to read the label before selecting skin care products or makeup.
Another one of the many causes of acne are skin irritations which can be brought about by abrasive cleansers, excessive cleansing, and unclean facial towels and pillow cases. You can also irritate your skin by touching it with dirty hands and picking your pimples.
There have been debates whether to classify certain foods as causes of acne. There are beliefs that peanuts are one of the causes of acne, and so are chocolates and oily foods. However, there are no scientific studies that can back them up. Peanuts are very rich in protein and chocolates are high in mood-enhancing substances called serotonins. Eating oily foods in excessive amounts, on the other hand, causes cardiovascular problems, but it is not proven to be one of the causes of acne.
Stress is one of the causes of acne, although it does not cause it directly. It is one of the causes of acne primarily because it makes hormonal levels unstable, triggering the sebaceous glands to produce too much oil and we know that this, combined with dead skin cells and bacteria is one of the causes of acne.
The skin needs vitamins such as Vitamins A, C, and E for nourishment but vitamin deficiency is not one of the causes of acne. Vitamin deficiency may cause dull skin but it does not make the skin oilier.
After knowing the real causes of acne, staying away from them is the most logical thing to do. Keeping in mind these causes of acne will make your skin clear and blemish free and not only that, you will get a confidence boost to improve your interaction with other people.
