The True Causes of Acne – Acne Vulgaris

It is very important to understand the basic causes of acne that you may be suffering from and the treatment options that are available. Seek out answer from all of the invaluable medical advice and treatments that are available to combat this skin disorder. Explore alternative therapies and remedies that may offer you a greater chance to combat the condition on your own with confidence or visit your local clinic and get assistance from a dermatologist that specializes in skin care. A large proportion of people suffer from varying forms of acne. The type of acne that you have and the causes of the acne will determine the severity of your acne outbreaks as well as help you chose between the multiple therapies available to halt any further outbreaks down the road.

Causes of Specific Types of Acne

Acne can appear anywhere on the body and during any time in one’s life. One less common, but still an issue with many people is back acne. It is important to know that the causes of back acne and the causes of adult acne are slightly different than other forms of acne. Please read the specific posts about these two types of acne for more information (just click on the previous links).

Acne 101

What is medically called Acne Vulgaris in it milder forms and Cystic Acne in it severe forms, or simply “acne” in common language, is one of the most common skin conditions in both teenagers and adults alike. It can have both a physically damaging effect on the skin and a negative impact on health as well as be the cause of mental trauma for those who suffer from this skin condition. Depending on where about on the body the acne may arise and the severity and type of the acne itself, this condition can be, in its milder forms, a simple skin disorder to deal with, yet, in its more severe forms, an extremely persistent and aggravating problem.

Causes of AcneThe vast majority of people who suffer from acne start to notice the signs with the onset of puberty and it is most often found to appear in teenagers and young adults. Although acne can continue on past puberty and into adulthood, the onset of acne can take a toll, both physically, in the form of pain and discomfort, as well as emotionally, in terms of social acceptance and embarrassment. These can quite easily leave the sufferer feeling upset and depressed, which can be quite detrimental to a teenager.

With acne being one of the most common skin conditions that will affect the majority of people at some stage in their lives with zits, spots and skin imperfections on the face, neck, and  back, it is little wonder why so many people are trying out new remedies and treatments to give them the best chance at fighting this skin condition. But first you need to understand what the causes of acne are in order to understand how and why theses new treatments work.

What are the causes of acne?

cystic acneOne of the main reasons people believe these skin conditions appear, and one of the main causes of cystic acne, is the sudden change in hormone levels that are associated with the puberty phase in both girls and boys. There are many glands within the skin that start to produce an oily bodily substance called sebum in excessive amounts. Without proper care, sebum causes the pores of the skin to become blocked and in turn causes regular spots, zits and blackheads to appear on the skin’s surface. These blockages typically become infected with the bacteria that is naturally found on the skin and this causes pustules on the surface of the skin creating what are commonly referred to as zits or pimples.

There is a wide range of acne that people suffer from. Here we will discuss the minor and milder causes of acne that result in regular zits, or whiteheads. This type of acne is caused when a pore in the skin is fully or partially blocked with a naturally occurring oily substance, called sebum. Sebum is secreted from the many oil producing glands found around the body and the face and is the cause of a majority of oily skin problems. Whitehead, zits, or spots are created when a pore is fully blocked, causing a surface bump to appear with a white head. The white head is the result of a small infection from the naturally occurring bacteria that is found on the skin surface and your body’s natural defense mechanism to get rid of the bacteria.

Blackheads, another mild form of acne, is caused by only a partial blockage of the pore with the sebum.  Dead skin cells within the blockage start to turn dark with the natural pigmentation of the skin, which is brought on through the healing process. The black marks are not caused by dirt or some other foreign material that has gotten into or under the skin, but is the natural process the skin takes to try to remove the blockage. Blackheads are a mild form of acne that can heal rather quickly and leave no scarring, if left to their own natural process. So try your best not to pop them once they form.

Other Factors and Causes of Acne

A list of other factors and causes of acne:

  • Heredity: Acne is known to be an hereditary condition that may be passed on to other family members, whereby if your parents both suffered from bouts of acne, then you are more likely to suffer from the same skin condition as them.
  • Hormone Changes: The most obvious is puberty, where hormone changes are dramatic for teenagers. However, for adults, these changes can occur in instances such as pregnancy where there are also huge changes in hormone levels. In both cases the body is producing an overabundance of the oily sebum fluid that can lead to and increase in acne outbreaks. There are different types of hormones that cause acne.
  • Stress and Anxiety: Cystic acne causes all manner of emotional problems in regards to the changes that people see in their faces. This is especially poignant in teenagers where they are more susceptible to shyness and introverted behaviors due to the emphasis placed on self-image. Stress can also come from work, school, family, and everyday life. It can weaken our immune system and that leave us vulnerable to sickness and infection. Our natural defenses are down and that can lead to increases in sebum production.
  • Foods that Cause Acne: What we eat has a direct impact on our health. There is no denying that fact. Food and acne go hand in hand. What you eat will have an impact on your skin’s health, especially if you are more susceptible to acne from other factors.

There are many acne causes and symptoms when it comes to skin disorders and the various forms they take on the skin, but there are a number of treatments, remedies, and practices that can be found to lessen the effects of acne and help to clear up the oily skin and the milder forms of acne found on the skin. Consultation with a doctor or dermatologist, if possible, will offer you great help in determining which courses of treatment to undertake, as well as guiding you to the right products that you can buy yourself to help with your acne. There are many ways to reduce the causes of acne, and implementing these actions early will help you maintain cleaner and cleaner skin in the long term.