The popular belief is that acne is typically caused by an unhealthy or imbalanced diet, poor personal hygiene, an uncontrolled sex drive, or too much chocolate.

The simple truth: The two main causes of this embarrassing skin disorder are heredity and hormones. So washing your face multiple times a day will not change your predisposition to this annoying skin issue.

Washing twice a day, morning and night, is sufficient. Over cleansing can cause the skin to produce even more oil an upset the natural PH balance of your skin. More oil equals, more opportunity for clogged pores!

It begins down under

It starts when excess sebum secretions from the skin’s sebaceous glands (oil glands), clog the tiny openings for hair follicles. Hence, a clogged pore, that can then take on several forms and create blackheads, pustules ( whiteheads ), and deeper hard bumps or nodules that develop into cystic acne.

Acne begins down under – Image Source: innate skin

All three forms of clogged pores can develop into swollen, tender inflammations or pimples. Nodules associated with severe cases of acne, grade IV, are firm swellings below the skin’s surface. They may become inflamed, tender, and sometimes infected.

When excess sebum clogs the openings to hair follicles, it can rear it’s ugly head on the face, neck, chest, and back. Bacteria then grow in these clogged follicles, causing a comedone (blackhead) or whitehead (pustule).

Sometimes, this clogging causes the follicle wall to break under the pressure of the excess oil (sebum) buildup. When this happens, sebum leaks into nearby tissues and forms a pustule or a papule, this is called inflammatory acne.

Acne is most common in adolescence for both males and females. When puberty begins, acne usually occurs between the ages of 10 and 13 and can be worse with oily skin. The common cause of acne in teenagers starts with an increase in hormone production. During puberty, both boys and girls produce high levels of androgens, the male sex hormones that include testosterone.

Testosterone signals the body to make more sebum, the oil produced in the skin’s oil glands. This continued over production of excess oil during teenage years, clogs pores and triggers onset of acne. Teenage acne usually lasts for five to 10 years, normally going away during the early 20s.

Studies show that teenage boys tend to have the most severe cases. Acne in teens can also be caused by genetics. Teens whose parents had acne are more likely to have it as well, sometimes due to higher sebum production or because of greater follicle sensitivity.

Schmitt Skin Severity Scale – Image Source: JCAD Online

Unfortunately, adult men and women can have acne too, accounting for approximately 20% of the population.

Women are more likely than men to have mild to moderate forms into their 30s and beyond.

The good news is that treatment options for all types of acne are available for both teens and adults. A regular deep pore facial is highly recommended to detox the skin, deep cleanse, and exfoliate dead skin cells that can contribute to continued clogged pores.

In addition, look for skin products and makeup that are non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic and oil-free.

Do you suffer from acne? Give us a call at 754 – 800 – 4970 so that we can help you today!