Acne Dissected: The Causes
Although extensive research has been conducted on the causes of acne and why some people often suffer while others have never experienced acne once, the exact cause of acne has never been scientifically proven.
However, people with and without acne are usually associated with a number of contributing factors, including:
Puberty
Adolescents and acne always seem to go hand in hand, and in our lives, even those who have never had acne before (or after) have outbreak symptoms.
In fact, research shows that more than 94% of people aged 12 to 24 have had acne at some point.
The reason why acne is so common among teenagers is hormones and androgens, which begin to work overtime as we approach puberty.
Androgens can cause our hair follicles and skin pores to enlarge and become very greasy.
When the oil mixes with our skin cells, it can cause clogging of our pores, leading to temporary acne outbreaks.
Your Hormones
Hormones seem to play an important role in causing acne and have been associated with severe acne in adolescents and adults.
It’s a Family Thing
It’s been said that while acne is not directly hereditary, if your parents suffered from severe acne, you are far more prone to acne yourself.
Scientists are still studying the links between children with acne and parents and no concrete evidence of a direct connection is available at this time.
Your Prescriptions
Depending on the type of medication you are on, specific prescription drugs are known to cause acne to flare up, especially anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medications, as well as specific types of steroids, barbiturates and lithium.
If you are on any medication and you believe that it is causing your acne to flare up, contact your doctor and discuss alternative prescription-based options that you can take to avoid causing your acne to get worse.
DO NOT stop taking your medication until you consult with your family doctor.
Our Environment
If you have been exposed to chemicals in the workplace, or even use household cleaners, air fresheners or fragrance cleaners at home, your existing acne may be temporarily irritated.
There are also case studies that show that people without a history of acne start to develop severe acne after continuous use of chemical cleaners, especially when cleaning without wearing gloves to protect their hands.