Acne Causes

Not every teenager with oily skin has acne. Not every adolescent whose mother and father had acne in their youth develops acne. The exact cause of acne is still not fully understood. So it is not always possible to answer the question " Why do I have acne and my brother,sister and friend do not?

Here are some factors may or may not related to acne.

Androgen

Androgens (male hormones) are the only hormones that directly stimulate oil glands to enlarge and product sebum. Both sexes produce androgens, male in the testes and adrenal glands, and females in the ovaries and adrenal glands.

Researches find the most acne sufferers do not have abnormal amounts of hormones for their age and sex. It may be that the sebaceous glands of people who have acne react differently, perhaps excessively, to normal levels of the hormones.

Blockage of Follicles

Normally, skin cells in the follicles grow, mature, die, flake off and are carried to the surface of the skin by the flow of sebum. For acne patients, these cells instead carrying to the surface, block the inside of the follicle, trap oil and bacteria and form a comedone.

Bacteria

Acne is not an "infection" in the true sense of the word, but bacteria inside the follicles do contribute to acne inflammation. These bacteria combine with the fatty acid to attract white blood cells, produce chemicals that make holes in the walls of the follicle, then allow the contents of the follicle, the sebum,dead cells,and bacteria, to leak out into the adjacent skin, create a local inflammation. When the area of inflammation is large enough, papule, pustule,or acne cyst comes out.

Reducing bacteria's number through treatment can effectively improve if not eliminate the acne.

Genetic Factors

Acne tends to run in families - if you have one parent who had severe acne, your chances of developing bad acne are higher. Also if you have a parent who has had persistent acne, your chances of developing persistent acne are higher.

It suggests that some trait or factor can be passed on from parent to child that, in the presence of other existing factors, promotes the development of acne.

Stress

Acne creates lots of emotional problems, like depression,anger and anxiety, for most of sufferers. Studies have shown severe stress also can induce acne for some people. Keeping relaxation and coping with stress will certainly help control and improve acne.

Oily Skin

Generally, people with acne have oilier skin than individuals who do not. Furthermore, the oilier your skin the worse your acne.

But oily skin is not the cause of acne. Studies show there are many acne sufferers who have normal or even dry skin, and some people with oily skin without a trace of acne.