Ever wondered what causes acne?

Ever wondered what causes acne?

 You wake up fresh on Sunday morning, ready to go to the movies or to that new restaurant everyone is hailing about. But the first thing that you see in the mirror is your face covered by spots of pimples or blackheads. Well, there goes down your cheery mood.

Acne is a common inconvenience that we all have to bear begrudgingly. But, instead of getting irritated with it, have you considered how it is caused? Well, you would be surprised to know that there are many causes of acne and considering them might help you to prevent and get rid of acne.

  • The science behind it

 

The pores of our skin are connected to sebaceous glands through hair follicles. Sebaceous glands produce sebum (oil) which lubricates our hair and prevents the skin from drying out. It also carries dead cells through hair follicles to the surface of the skin to get rid of them. When these glands secrete too much sebum (oil), it mixes with dead cells to form a plug in the follicle which clogs the pores. This clogging may take the form of blackhead, whitehead, pimples or spots. Firstly you need to prevent further clogging by oil-free non-comedogenic products that control sebum production and also exfoliate your skin to clear out dead cells.

  • Blame it on the hormones

 

Sebaceous glands are particularly sensitive to a type of sex hormone called Androgen. The level of androgen increases in boys and girls during puberty. Excess androgen levels cause the oil glands to enlarge and produce extra sebum which results in acne. In women, androgen level increases during menstrual cycles and pregnancy.

  • Take medicine cautiously

 

Drugs containing corticosteroids, iodides, bromides, testosterone or lithium can lead to pimple breakouts and worsen the acne condition.

  • Step down from the stress station

 

Our body has certain ways to deal with unfavorable conditions. So, during stress, the adrenal gland releases cortisol to deal with it. But, a tiny bit of testosterone is leaked during this process which causes acne as oil glands are sensitive to these hormones.

  • Keep those cravings in check

 

 

Contrary to blindly followed acne myths, acne can also be caused by an unhealthy diet. Although it is not directly proven that junk foods cause acne, it is believed that a high-carbohydrate diet and skim milk can aggravate acne conditions. Sugary foods increase insulin level, which again boosts the secretion of oil. Food containing iodine like lobster and shrimps, when taken in excess, lead to acne breakouts over time.

  • Passed down from folks

 

 

The appearance of severe acne can be a genetic condition.

  • Others

 

Exposure to pollution, over washing, smoking and bacterial infection can also lead to acne. Moreover, using the wrong products that clog your skin can also be a cause of acne. Oily and combination skin that is prone to breakouts should be treated carefully with proper skin regime specifically targeting acne.  You should use an acne foaming cleanser and an acne serum that is gentle on the skin but tough on acne.

So, instead of wasting your Sunday fretting about acne and other life problems, why not try to tackle it calmly.

Author
Jigyasha Jain

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