The Cause of Acne

Even though acne is not fully understood, medical science is aware of some of the causes. The major cause of acne is an oily substance called sebum. The body produces sebum to keep the skin and hair lubricated, but excess amounts can cause problems.

Sebum production is controlled by the male hormone testosterone. Despite being a "male" hormone, both males and females produce testosterone.

During adolescence the body reacts to testosterone by producing excess sebum, which in turn causes the hair and skin to be oily. This is an abnormal reaction which usually corrects itself by the end of the teenage years.

Sebum is excreted through hair follicles, but when there is too much sebum it can combine with dead skin cells to block these hair follicles. This prevents the sebum from escaping and it accumulates beneath the skin.

This accumulation of sebum beneath the skin is a breeding ground for bacteria. The bacteria multiply and cause the area to become red and inflamed - the cause of acne.

The face and upper torso are the most common areas for excess sebum production and this is why acne usually occurs in these spots.

We don't know exactly why the body reacts this way during adolescence. The cause of acne seems to be partly hereditary, but there are other factors which can aggravate acne conditions such as diet, stress, skin irritation, certain medications, and hormonal activities such as menstrual cycles.

Food - A Cause of Acne?

Several studies suggest that skim milk is a cause of acne. Many people believe that chocolate and fast food are a cause of acne, but studies don't back up this conclusion. An interesting link between acne and diet is found in a 2002 study called "Acne vulgaris: a disease of Western civilization."

This study concludes that the "astonishing difference in acne incidence rates between non-westernized and fully modernized societies cannot be solely attributed to genetic differences among populations but likely results from differing environmental factors."

A major "environment factor" affecting acne could be diet. Traditional societies that consume unprocessed, low-fat plant-foods have remarkably low rates of acne.

Medications Associated with Acne

Some medications are suspected as being a cause of acne. These include anabolic steroids used for bodybuilding, lithium, barbiturates, halogens, and androgens. Anyone with acne should avoid these types of medications if possible.

Other Causes of Acne

Recent scientific studies have been looking at the connection between hair follicles and acne. Hair follicles may be affected by conditions such as water retention or cell binding which causes the hair follicle to narrow. This prevents dead skin cells from being expelled, so they accumulate beneath the skin and combine with sebum.

Cleanliness and Acne

Since excessively oily skin is a major cause of acne, it makes good sense to keep your skin clean and oil free. Special acne cleansers can be used several times a day, but there are also bad habit to overcome to keep your skin oil-free.

Touching the face is a no-no. Fingers have oil and bacteria that we want to keep OFF our faces. In fact, try to avoid anything that comes in contact with the face such as hats and headbands. Objects such as eyeglasses should be kept clean to avoid spreading oil and bacteria that can cause acne. Hair should be kept clean and off the face as much as possible.