What Really Causes Acne?
It should be stated at the beginning that the exact cause of acne is unclear. Although endless research has been conducted so far, nothing has been isolated as the main cause of acne development.
However, with this in mind, doctors and researchers have at least reached some conclusions about which risk factors are involved and ultimately lead to the development of acne.
According to some researchers, the main reasons are hormones and heredity, but this does not explain everything. No, in some cases, factors such as medications, types of cosmetics, and certain aspects of personal hygiene (i.e., skin cleansing methods) are more likely to create conditions for the formation of acne.
The environment can also be a catalyst. Those who use chemicals or come into contact with oils are more prone to acne, because these materials themselves can clog pores.
Hormones
With the onset of puberty, the body begins to produce hormones called androgens or male sex hormones, which increase in boys and girls.
These androgens can cause enlargement and excessive stimulation of sebaceous glands in hair follicles or skin pores.
The excess sebum or oil produced by the sebaceous glands mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria on the surface of the skin, thereby clogging the pores.
In clogged pores, bacteria multiply and cause inflammation. All of these can lead to acne-related lesions. Adolescents are the most common acne patient, simply due to hormonal changes associated with puberty.
Current data indicate that nearly 85% of people will develop acne sometime between 12 and 25 years of age. It is also important to note that hormonal changes related to the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and even menopause are the culprits.
In creating acne. In addition, when women start or stop using contraceptives, the hormonal fluctuations that may occur at this time can cause some women to develop acne.
In addition, hormonal fluctuations in adults (males and females) can cause a surge in sebum production in the sebaceous glands. Due to hormonal changes, many people are prone to acne.
Genetics
Another factor is heredity or heredity. Many researchers now believe that the tendency to develop acne can be inherited from parents.
In research conducted by many scientists, it has been found that there is a connection between current acne patients and the presence of acne in their family history.
However, strictly speaking, acne is not a genetic disease, at least not in a medical sense.
However, acne is more common in children whose parents have or still have acne than in children without acne.
Although the research is still in progress, there is no doubt that the research will continue to produce new results and may be able to unearth deeper genetic causes.
Other Factors
Medication
As mentioned earlier, the side effects of certain medications can cause acne. Examples might include: barbiturates, antidepressants, anxiolytics, lithium, and some forms of steroids.
Heavy or oily cosmetics
For some cosmetics, its ingredients can affect the structure of hair follicles, resulting in excessive sebum secretion, which can block pores.
Over-abrasive cleansing
Astringent facial products will dry out the skin, and will also cause the body to overproduce sebum to compensate. Using a strong scrub can damage existing spots and spread infection.
Flare Up Factors
There are many other factors that can cause existing acne outbreaks and cause more problems.
The following pages list a small list of some of these factors to help us understand acne more clearly, and hope to better understand the reasons and factors that make acne so inconvenient and uncomfortable.
Pressure from helmets or hats, backpacks, tight clothing
If the skin is stressed, such as when wearing a hat and helmet, or when the backpack is pressed on the shoulder, the possibility of irritation and breakthrough is real.
Or friction, such as the friction that occurs when wearing tight clothes, or the pressure in the above-mentioned hat or helmet, will have a great impact on the pores and worsen the acne.
Environmental Irritants
If a person works in a garage or factory, certain chemicals in these environments can actually cause a burst, or even a burst.
For example, when oils are in contact with the skin for a long time, they can clog pores or at least irritate the skin. Pollution can have the same effect on the skin, clogging pores and causing infections.
Heavy Scrubbing of Skin
Pinching or squeezing blackheads and/or whiteheads can cause infection to penetrate deep into the skin and cause scarring.
Diet
While no foods actually have been linked to the cause of acne, it is proven that certain foods can be responsible for acne flare-ups.