Causes of Acne
A popular question among teens who have acne is, "How did I get this?"
During puberty, the hormone testosterone, found in
both males and females, is at increased levels. Testosterone is
partly responsible for physical development in young people.
The hormone also causes sebaceous glands, or oil glands, to
produce more oil.
The oil and dead skin cells clog pores and cause acne.
Normal skin bacteria called P. acnes may multiply in a clogged
pore and cause irritation, swelling, and redness.
Why do some teens have a severe case of acne and others have a mild case or none at all?
Each teen is different. Whether you have a severe or mild case of
acne will largely depend on the amount of testosterone and the
production of oil in your body.
Some people believe diet may make acne worse, although is it not
scientifically proven.
What brings on acne or makes it worse?
Although acne cannot be linked solely to any one cause, there are several
culprits — both internally, from your own body, and externally, from the
environment — that can contribute to acne developing or worsening:
Hormones: Increased levels of hormones, especially testosterone.
Heredity: If either of your parents had acne as a teen, you may
develop it as well.
Menstruation: Females may experience more acne during their periods.
Emotional stress: A study showed that increased stress may relate to
worsening acne.
Oil and grease: Some oils from certain cosmetics, facial scrubs, tanning
or hair products, and moisturizers may cause skin pores to become
clogged, which can cause acne. Also, cooking oils and grease may
cause acne.
Squeezing or picking: Squeezing or picking
pimples or lesions speeds the breaking down of follicle walls and forces the
dead cells and other material contained within deeper into the skin. This can
lead to more inflammation and scarring.
Hard, vigorous scrubbing: Washing your face with too much force will
not cause acne, but it may make existing acne worse or irritate your skin.
Diet: Some people believe that certain foods may cause acne, though
this has not been proven. Nevertheless, it is important to pay attention to
your body. If you notice that your acne gets worse when you eat
certain foods, you may want to avoid or limit your consumption of that
food or consult with your doctor.