Acne is mainly a chronic skin inflammation that causes spots and pimples on the skin. Almost everyone faces this condition whether mild or severe. The most common type of acne is back and forehead acne. Around 80% of people face mild acne problems. Before anything, you must know the conditions that cause acne and then find a cure or consult a dermatologist. Most commonly, hormonal changes during menopause, puberty, and childbirth cause most acne. Here we’ll discuss the common causes of acne breakout on the forehead, back, face, and shoulders. So, you’ll know what causes acne and how to deal with it.
Conditions That Are Major Causes of Acne
The exact causes of acne are still unknown to the doctors. However, it is believed to be caused mainly by overactive oil glands underneath the skin, diets, bacterial infections, and hormonal changes.
1. Overactive Oil Gland
Oil glands or sebaceous glands are located deep inside the skin. Oily skin generally occurs when overactive oil glands enlarge and overproduce oil. Usually, the oil glands are helpful as they help in lubricating the skin and removing old skin cells. Acne develops when some of the pores of the skin become blocked. The pores may clog due to dirt, debris, or bacteria, resulting in oil trapped in the pores, further causing blackheads and whiteheads.
2. Squeezing Pimples
One should take care of pimples carefully because bacteria can infiltrate the wound or rupture the pustule inside the skin, causing infection and inflammation. If the infection is deep inside your skin, it leads to a more severe form of acne called cystic acne; it is one of the most severe forms of acne, in which pimples grow large, filled with pus, and more likely to cause scarring.
3. Hormones
Among all causes, one of the most common causes of acne is hormonal changes. Acne is more commonly seen in teenagers when there is an imbalance of hormones, especially in females. However, it can also happen in any age group and even to infants. Teens are mostly seen to have acne when they reach puberty. At puberty, many hormonal changes occur, resulting in acne. Girls are most affected when their menstrual cycle starts; signs of acne begin to be seen in them. Also, pregnant women are more prone to acne because their body is changing due to hormonal imbalances.
4. Stress
Among the various causes of acne listed, stress also plays an active role in acne. It is mainly because our body reacts differently when we are under pressure. There are many hormonal changes taking place at that time. Stress is related to the production of cortisol hormones that aggravate acne. Also, when there is a hormonal change, the body prompts the skin’s oil glands to produce more oil. As a result, they increase in size and produce more oil, and it becomes the primary cause of various pimples, including blackheads and whiteheads.
5. Make-up
Improper or low-quality skincare products also cause acne. Heavy make-up or oil-based make-up also assists the pimples to grow. Heavy makeup blocks the pores of the skin, and in case it is oil-based makeup, it will surely add more oil to your skin.
Also Read: Even if you put makeup on, you should always be aware of the product quality. Use skin-friendly ways to remove makeup, if you put on any.
6. Bacteria
Bacteria that grow in the blocked pores cause acne. The bacteria called P. acne attacks white blood cells. As a result, they produce enzymes that cause inflammation and redness of the skin. The bad part is that this type of bacteria cannot be removed but can be reduced. So, it is always advisable to wash your face every morning with a face wash that contains benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. It will help in reducing the further growth of bacteria.
7. Environmental Condition
Humidity and pollution of the environment are also prominent causes of acne. When there is sweating due to the humidity, it leads to swelling of the skin surface, and pollution helps to block the pores.
8. Heredity
Another factor of acne is heredity or genetics. It is seen that a person who has a family history of acne is more susceptible to it. There are several cases where cystic acne is prevalent in people whose parents have this type of acne.
9. Vitamins
There are certain medicines and steroids which are believed to cause or exaggerate acne. For example, vitamins B1, B6, and B12 are good for the skin, but they can also cause skin flare-ups. Avoid overusing them. Most parents also believe it is primarily due to chocolates, nuts, fried fatty foods, and sweets, but this is not true and has not yet been proven.
When you face an acne problem, you should never try stupid home remedies because they can intensify your acne. You need to consult a dermatologist to find the hormonal or genetic causes of acne, its remedies, and prevention. You can consume a Vitamin-A-rich diet and refrain from fats and oils to prevent more problems. Tea tree oil can also effectively reduce sebum production hence treating acne. Sometimes, moisturizers help soothe your skin to cure skin problems, but you should always consult a dermatologist first.
Also Read: You can use Korean face masks to prevent sebum in your glands for easy and effective oil control treatments at home.
