Causes of Acne
Acne is caused when small holes in the skin, known as hair follicles, become blocked.
Sebaceous glands are tiny glands which are found near the surface of your skin. The glands are attached to hair follicles, these being small holes in your skin from which an individual hair grows out. The sebaceous glands lubricate the skin and the hair to stop it from drying out. They perform this action by producing an oily substance called sebum.
When it comes to acne, the glands begin to produce too much sebum. This excess sebum mixes with dead skin cells and the two substances form a plug in the follicle. If this plugged follicle is near the surface of the skin, it bulges outwards, thus creating a white head. Alternatively, the plugged follicle can be open to the skin, in this case creating a blackhead. Usually harmless bacteria that exists on the skin can then contaminate and infect the plugged follicles, resulting in papules, pustules, nodules or cysts.
Acne is most commonly linked to changes in the hormone levels during puberty but it can start at any age.
Particular hormones such as testosterone cause the grease-producing glands which are next to hair follicles in the skin to produce larger amounts of oil (known as abnormal sebum).
This abnormal sebum modifies the activity of a normally harmless skin bacterium called P. acnes, which becomes more aggressive and thus causes inflammation and pus.
The hormones also thicken the inner lining of the hair follicle, which causes blockage of the pores (opening of the hair follicles). Please note that cleaning the skin doesn’t help in removing this blockage.
Other possible causes are:
- Acne is known to run in the family. If both your father and mother had acne, it’s likely that you’ll also have it.
- Hormonal changes, like those that occur during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy may also lead to episodes of acne in women.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome is another cause – a common condition that may cause acne, weight gain and also the formation of small cysts inside the ovary.
There’s no evidence associated with the idea that diet, poor hygiene or sexual activity play a role in acne.
Other possible triggers of an acne flare-up include:
- Some cosmetic products – however, this is less common as the majority of products are now tested, so they don’t cause spots (non-comedogenic)
- Certain medications – such as lithium (used to treat depression and bipolar disorder), steroid medications, and some anti-epileptic drugs (used to treat epilepsy)
- Regularly wearing items that place a certain pressure on an affected area of skin, such as a backpack or a headband
- Smoking – which can contribute to acne in older people
