Why does acne occur? What causes acne?

UNDERCOVER

Undercover is a very common skin condition that causes acne, mostly on the face, forehead, chest, shoulders and upper back. Acne usually affects teenagers, but can occur at any age. So why does acne occur?causes acne?

Acne is a common skin problem that occurs when the pores in the skin are clogged by oil, bacteria, dead skin cells and dirt.

There are different types and severity of acne.

Clogged pores trigger normally harmless bacteria that live on the skin, creating inflammation, which leads to more severe acne breakouts.

For acne to appear, 3 factors must come together;

• Overactive sebaceous (oil) glands
• Abnormal shedding of dead skin cells and rapid production (proliferation)
• Bacteria that cause acne.

WHY DOES ACNE OCCUR?

Many researchers believe that acne is an inflammatory skin condition.

Acne  occurs when the sebum-secreting ducts in the middle layer of the skin become blocked, swollen and then inflamed with bacteria . Blackheads (comedones) occur as a result of increased oil secretion in the skin and clogging of the pores.

In general, acne develops because your skin is prone to it.

Some things can cause and/or make acne worse:

• Changes to the hormone
• Hormone levels that fluctuate throughout the menstrual period in women.
• Spread of bacteria from acne due to improper procedures
• Clogged pores from clothing and headgear, such as hats and sports helmets
• Clogged pores due to air pollution and certain weather conditions, especially high humidity
• Wrong personal care products 
• Working in an area where you routinely come into contact with oil (such as working in a restaurant with greasy food surfaces and frying oil)
• Smoking and drug use can contribute to acne in the elderly
• some drugs
• Genetic predisposition

Here is the substance, why does acne come out?

BACTERIA CAUSES ACNE

Propionibacterium acnes (  P. acnes  ) are bacteria commonly found on the skin.

In some people with  acne, the P. acnes  population grows out of control.

When a pore is clogged by dead skin cells and sebum, oxygen cannot enter the pore.  This is called anaerobic. Some bacteria, such as P. acnes  , thrive in anaerobic conditions. In a clogged pore, their population can grow rapidly.

Bacteria make a fatty acid waste while digesting the oil trapped in the pore. The waste irritates the lining of the pores causing redness and inflammation.

White blood cells flow into the pores in response to inflammation. When they die, they mix with dead skin cells and make pus.

SOME FOODS INCREASES ACNE

So far, research has not found any food that causes acne. Although nutrition is not the direct cause of acne, it can cause existing acne to worsen.

What causes acne? Yes, one of the factors that trigger acne is nutrition. Some research has linked certain foods and diets to acne. Skim milk, whey protein, and a diet high in sugar and fat can contribute to acne flare-ups. Chocolate has not been directly linked to acne.

Eating a balanced, nutritious diet rich in plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially vitamin C and beta carotene, helps reduce inflammation. There is also some evidence that eating fish may help.

ACNE MORE IN WOMEN

Women are more likely to have adult acne than men. Many cases of adult acne are thought to be caused by changes in hormone levels that many women have at certain times.

Why do women get acne?

• Menstrual period  – some women have a burst of acne just before their menstrual period
• Pregnancy – many women experience acne symptoms during this period, usually in the first 3 months of pregnancy.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome – a common condition that can cause acne, weight gain, and the formation of small cysts inside the ovary

ABNORMAL SKIN CELL LOSS 

Why does acne occur? One of the most important causes of excessive acne on the skin is abnormal skin cell shedding. 

 The top layer of the skin is called the epidermis. This layer continually sheds dead skin cells through a process called desquamation. This is how the skin exfoliates and renews itself.

Acne-prone skin produces more dead skin cells than normal. Because these cells are not shed properly, they become trapped inside the follicle and block it.

GENETIC FACTORS

Why does acne occur? One of the reasons is unfortunately genetic predisposition. This makes it harder for you to heal your acne. If your parents had acne, you’ll likely get acne too.

One study found that if both of your parents had acne, you’re more likely to experience more severe acne at an early age. 

It also found that if one or both of your parents had adult acne, you were more likely to have adult acne, too.

TESTOSTERONE

If you are wondering why acne occurs during adolescence, you need to look at the hormones. An increase in a hormone called testosterone that occurs during puberty is thought to trigger puberty acne. 

The hormone plays an important role in stimulating the growth and development of the penis and testicles in boys and maintaining muscle and bone strength in girls.

The sebaceous glands are particularly sensitive to hormones. It is thought that increased testosterone levels cause the glands to produce much more sebum than the skin needs.