WHAT DO YOU REALLY THINK COULD BE RESPONSIBLE OR CAUSES ACNE?

Acne is a very common dermatological condition which can be quite disfiguring and have longer-term effects. It tends to affect adolescent people but is by no means limited to them. What are the causes of acne? Find the answers in our report learn about the underlying causes and read about some acne myths that we debunk, too.

A Dermatological Disaster

The basis for an acne outbreak lies in the blockage of hair follicles in the skin. The follicles and associated sebaceous glands normally produce a natural protein called keratin. They also shed dead skin cells from the follicle lining, and a natural oil called sebum. In acne, keratin and sebum are produced to excess. The follicles become blocked by keratin, sebum and dead skin cells. The blockages lead to the symptoms of acne.

Once the follicles (or pores) get blocked, a specific bacterium called Propionibacterium which is normally harmless infects the blocked ducts. The result is inflammation and damage to the skin and underlying tissue. The bacterium (usually abbreviated to P. acnes) is anaerobic. This means that it does not use oxygen to survive. In fact, it does best in the absence of oxygen so it's perfectly adapted to cause maximum trouble in blocked pores.

It's All In Your Hormones                        

Both genetic factors and the body's hormones are key issues when considering what are the causes of acne. The rate of keratin production is linked to genetic factors. This is why acne has significant genetic dependency. In other words, it tends to run in families. Due to the presence of male hormones called androgens, the rate of sebum production increases in puberty. The male sex hormones cause enlargement of the sebaceous glands and increase the rate of sebum production.

The effect on the skin's pores varies. They may be blocked, become enlarged and appear as blackheads, papules, pustules and so on. Some may become closed pockets of dead skin cells, these are a very common dermatological feature known as milia and are not limited to acne. In girls and women, hormonal changes linked to menstruation may also contribute to the likelihood of an acne outbreak.

Just for the record, the androgens that are associated with acne are testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). There's another similar cause which does not arise naturally - steroids. The use of anabolic steroids can lead to acne as they have a very similar effect to naturally occurring androgens.

Although acne is frequently seen in adolescence and early adult life, it may break out later in life too. What are the causes of acne later on in life? Hormone activity naturally increases during pregnancy and as a consequence, pregnant women are disposed to suffering acne outbreaks. During the menopause, there is progressive reduction in the production of the female hormone estradiol and acne is sometimes seen at this time as a result.

Other Causes Of Acne

There may be a relationship between stress and acne. Opinions do vary, but it is commonly proposed that an increase of stress may provoke or worsen an acne outbreak. The causality is still disputed. Although there is a likely correlation between stress and acne, it is not clear if the stress results from the challenges of enduring acne, or the other way round.

What are the causes of acne that we might be able to deal with ourselves? Perhaps we could avoid acne by making changes to our diet. There is good evidence that a high GL diet tends to make acne worse. GL is glycemic load; it expresses how much carbohydrate is present in the food and its effect on the levels of glucose in the blood. High GL food tends to cause large peaks in blood glucose levels which may in turn worsen the severity of acne, amongst other undesirable effects.

There is no evidence in favour of various popular myths, for example it is untrue that consuming products like chocolate gives rise to acne or makes it more severe.

Don McRandall provides expert tips on proven ways to clear acne. For more great information on and to access a free step-by-step mini-course that will teach you what you need to know today about acne and its treatment.

Causes of Acne

Acne is an inflammatory condition of the skin in areas of the body where oil glands are most prevalent. The manifestations include all symptoms that are associated with a disturbance in the oil glands. These include the proliferation of blackheads and whiteheads, the appearance of pimples, pinheads and nodules. Pinheads and nodules are similar in appearance to pimples but larger and with the infection burrowing deeper into the skin. They can be very painful, especially when found in areas of the body where pressure is habitually exerted.

What Are The Causes of Acne?
The indirect causes of acne are the many physiological changes occurring in the body as a person reaches the age of puberty. In both genders, this period is marked by an increase in the secretion of the male hormones or androgens. These hormones stimulate the growth of the organs of the human body as well as in the proliferation of bigger and more numerous strands of hair Likewise, the sebaceous or oil glands of the skin are in the process of development.

The immediate cause of acne
When looking at how to cure acne, you need to realise that it may be accompanied by infection or not. The proliferation of whiteheads and blackheads during adolescence is due to the fact that the pores of the skin are clogged by the exudations of the sebaceous or oil glands.

However, most instances of acne are accompanied by infections of the skin. Very often, the accelerated growth of the hair produces microscopic lesions in the skin where bacteria can enter. Under normal conditions, the bacteria are expelled through the sweat pores of the skin. However, when sebaceous glands are prevalent, these can clog the pores such that the bacteria are trapped under the skin. There they form colonies which we see as pimples, nodules and boils.

Can acne be prevented?
The development of the hair cannot be prevented since that is part of the cycle of human development. What people can do to prevent the appearance of the many manifestations of acne is to minimize on their fatty intake. During the period of puberty, young kids should learn to eat fish and green, leafy vegetables. Likewise, oat meal and wheat are excellent non-fatty foods that should form a great part of the diet of young people during adolescence. Sweets, nuts in general and all kinds of fatty and oily foods should be avoided.

Going often to steam baths is very good for melting the oils that have hardened under the skin and allowing the sweat to come through. In general, activities wherein people sweat are recommendable for preventing the accumulation of fatty substances in the pores of the skin.

How To Cure Acne Effectively

The bacteria themselves can be killed by the right topical solutions, ointments or by the intake of anti-microbial drugs. However, it is not advisable for young people to take the liberty of purchasing anti-biotics from drug stores without a prescription from their family doctor. Remember that the effectiveness of antibiotics depends on how they are applied or taken in orally and only a licensed physician will be in a position to determine the right dosage for people depending on their body weight.

Those ointments and creams that are advertised as effective to get rid of acne should also be used with great care. Even if they worked for friends, remember that the skin types different people will vary from one another. The cream that works for a friend may not achieve any results for you, may even be harmful.

Obviously, it's possible that you may want to explore other natural ways to cure acne.With that in mind, I've created a free report that detail using 10 secret tips that the doctors didn't tell you. In this guide, you will learn many more methods of curing your acne from within, not just by treating the skin, but by ensuring that your whole body has the tools it needs to get rid of your acne for good.