What Causes Acne
First, let's dispel the myths. Chocolate and junk food don't cause acne. Neither does dirty skin, although keeping it clean is important. The first step is to wash twice a day with a gentle cleanser, as well as to wash your face after sweating. But scrubbing or washing too much can make acne worse.
Blame acne on hormones, which are natural substances in the body. If your child has acne, it most likely means puberty has started. During puberty, hormones flood the body, causing many changes. Unfortunately, one of those changes may be acne.
Here's what happens:
- Hormones trigger oil-producing glands in the skin, called sebaceous glands, to go into overdrive. Normally, these glands produce oil to keep the skin and hair from drying out. But during puberty, the glands get bigger and produce too much oil, called sebum.
- Excess oil can clog the skin's pores.
- The skin sheds excess dead cells, more than usual. The dead skin cells stick to the oil and clog the pores even more.
- The clogged pores are a magnet for bacteria, which causes inflammation.
- Acne is the result of clogged, and sometimes inflamed, pores.
Adult acne also often is related to hormones, which can still fluctuate, particularly for women while they are having their menstrual periods, during pregnancy or during menopause. Other things that can prompt adult acne include:
- Medications: Acne can be a side effect of some medications. Some medications also help prevent acne, so stopping them may cause acne to return.
- Medications such as corticosteroids (which are used for asthma and other conditions) and anticonvulsants (which treat epilepsy and other conditions) can cause acne. Do not stop taking a medication because of acne. Instead, talk to your doctor to determine whether the medication may be causing acne and if so, ask whether trying a different medication is an option. If that is not possible, a dermatologist can help you control the acne.
- Birth control pills — also called oral contraceptives — contain hormones, so stopping or starting them may prevent or prompt acne, depending on what's in the pill. If your pill contains estrogen and progesterone, it may control your acne. If you stop taking the pill, acne might flare up. If your pill contains only progesterone, it can make acne worse.
- Family history: The tendency to get acne might be in your genes.
- Stress: Stress prompts your body to make more hormones (androgens) that cause acne.
- Hair and skin products: Some sunscreens, hair gels, moisturizers and cosmetics contain oil, which can clog your pores and cause acne. Be sure to buy products labeled "oil-free", "non-comedogenic" or "non-acnegenic."
- A medical condition: Especially when accompanied by other symptoms, acne can be a warning sign of another medical condition. If you have acne as well as excess facial hair, thinning hair, bald patches on your scalp, or irregular periods, see your doctor. It may be a sign of cysts or tumors on the ovaries or adrenal gland.
Next: Types of Acne
