What Causes Acne?
The exact cause of acne remains unclear but more is known about how the spots that are part of acne form than what actually causes acne. Acne is a skin condition caused by over activity of the glands that secrete oily substances on to the skin. The blackheads and spots usually occur on the face, where the greatest number of these oil-producing “sebaceous” glands exist. The back, chest and shoulders can also be affected.
“most acne sufferers don’t have a hormone problem and their hormones are at normal levels in their blood. The process of obstructing follicles is called comedogenesis. It causes some follicles to form a type of acne called comedones, also known as blackheads and whiteheads.”
How Does Acne Develop?
Doctors describe acne as a disease of the pilosebaceous units (PSUs). Found over most of the body, PSUs consist of a sebaceous gland connected to a canal, called a follicle, that contains a fine hair. These units are most numerous on the face, upper back, and chest. The sebaceous glands make an oily substance called sebum that normally empties onto the skin surface through the opening of the follicle, commonly called a pore. Cells called keratinocytes line the follicle. The hair, sebum, and keratinocytes that fill the narrow follicle may produce a plug, which is an early sign of acne. The plug prevents sebum from reaching the surface of the skin through a pore.
The mixture of oil and cells allows bacteria Propionibacterium acne’s that normally live on the skin to grow in the plugged follicles. These bacteria produce chemicals and enzymes and attract white blood cells that cause inflammation. (Inflammation is a characteristic reaction of tissues to disease or injury and is marked by four signs: swelling, redness, heat, and pain.) When the wall of the plugged follicle breaks down, it spills everything into the nearby skin, sebum, shed skin cells, and bacteria leading to lesions or pimples.
People with acne frequently have a variety of lesions. The basic acne lesion, called the comedo (KOM-e-do), is simply an enlarged and plugged hair follicle. If the plugged follicle, or comedo, stays beneath the skin, it is called a closed comedo and produces a white bump called a whitehead. A comedo that reaches the surface of the skin and opens up is called an open comedo or blackhead because it looks black on the skin’s surface. This black discoloration is due to changes in sebum as it is exposed to air. It is not due to dirt. Both whiteheads and blackheads may stay in the skin for a long time.
Other troublesome acne lesions can develop, including the following:
- Papules : inflamed lesions that usually appear as small, pink bumps on the skin and can be tender to the touch Pustules.
- Pimples : papules topped by white or yellow pus-filled lesions that may be red at the base.
- Nodules : large, painful, solid lesions that are lodged deep within the skin Cysts, deep, painful, pus-filled lesions that can cause scarring.
Do Sex Hormones cause acne?
Several factors are involved in the development of acne. Central to this are the sex hormones, which are produced at puberty. The male hormone testosterone - found naturally in women as well as in men, triggers the sebaceous glands to produce more of an oily substance called sebum, making the skin more greasy. However, most acne sufferers don’t have a hormone problem and their hormones are at normal levels in their blood. The process of obstructing follicles is called comedogenesis. It causes some follicles to form a type of acne called comedones, also known as blackheads and whiteheads.
All acne is a disorder of the pilosebaceous unit, which is made up of a hair follicle, sebaceous gland, and a hair. The number of pilosebaceous units is greatest on the face, upper neck, and chest. Sebaceous glands produce a substance called sebum, which is responsible for keeping the skin and hair moisturized. During adolescence sebaceous glands enlarge and produce more sebum under the influence of hormones, also called androgens. After about age 20, sebum production begins to decrease.
When there is an excess of sebum, the area around a hair follicle and the opening through the skin, the pores can become clogged. A bug, a bacterium called Propionobacterium acnes, that lives normally on the skin , can thrive within the blocked pore. This infection causes inflammation, which is responsible for the redness and swelling of a spot. Sometimes as in severe acne, the pocket of inflammation within a pore can rupture, causing damage to the skin that can result in scarring.
Another information resource what is and causes of acne.
Common Acne Myth
Some people think that acne is caused by not washing your face often and not scrubbing it hard enough. Many believed that acne is caused by dirt and dust in the face and by washing your face two-three even four times a day or scrubbing your face hard can prevent acne. Although It is true that dirt and dust is unsightly to the face and washing the face is the way to eliminate dirt and microbes but washing often can actually irritate the skin more.
Washing should not be done more than twice a day. More than twice is enough to strip the face of its natural oils making it dry. Also, scrubbing can cause inflammations. Washing the face should be done as gently as possible with the gentlest facial scrub. Drugs such as certain steroid tablets and some beauty products that block the pores can contribute to acne but contrary to popular beliefs, acne is not caused by eating fatty food or chocolates.
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Related acne information:
Types of Acne - specifying the most common types of acne and acne scarring.
Natural Acne Treatment - safe natural alternative healing ways to help with facial and body acne.
Another information resource about acne myth’s.
