Exactly What Are The Causes Of Acne?
Thursday, January 20th, 2011The majority of folks have suffered from acne at some point in their lives. This skin ailment, though it is common, has negative connotations attached to it that cause self-esteem issues among some. In addition to the negative connotations that this condition has, there are misconceptions over exactly what leads to people to suffer from it. In order to much better comprehend the truth about what causes acne and to better understand how to deal with it, let’s discuss what can and can’t result in an outbreak of this skin issue.
The Link Between Hormones And Acne
One thing that’s frequently linked to acne outbreaks will be the presence of additional hormones within the body. Women naturally encounter a surge of hormones at particular points in the menstrual cycle and this can result in increased problems with acne. In all people, the extra hormones the body produces throughout puberty frequently results in episodes of acne, making it a regular part of growing up. Men and women also encounter tension at various times in their lives and the resulting stimulation of the adrenal glands can also result in outbreaks of acne.
Even Clean Skin Gets Acne
Acne frequently takes the form of blackheads , which are small black spots that appear towards the top of the acne cysts. Because of the way these appear, men and women often misinterpret acne as a result of dirt and grime on the face, meaning that those with acne have poor personal hygiene. In reality, those black spots are usually composed of keratin, which is the material that makes up skin and hair cells. Because this affliction is caused by unshed skin cells blocking pores, these black spots often show. This is normal, and reflects a symptom, not a cause.
Acne Bacteria
While it’s keratin that blocks the pores, it is the microorganisms that thrive inside that trigger acne. These microorganisms breed and result in the inflammation that usually shows itself as reddened skin or as pimples. Whilst blackheads are the result of dead skin tissue blocking the pore, whiteheads happen when the white blood cells sent by the body to fight the infection do their job, die and build up in the same area. So although whiteheads are unsightly, it is a sign that your body is working to wipe out the microorganisms.
The Role That Food Plays
Food is frequently believed to contribute to outbeaks of acne but its role is far from obvious. While old-fashioned suggestions for preventing outbreaks involves cutting out things such as chocolate and deep-fried foods, studies have not necessarily proved that easing up on consuming either definitely helps. One foodstuff that’s a definite problem though is milk, although it is believed to be more from the hormones in it than the fat content. Processed sugars have also been proven to be a contributory factor. Whatever the effect that food plays, genetic makeup, age and sex are most likely the most important contributory factors.

