| While the exact cause of acne is not completely | | | | pores and acne. |
| understood, the general process is known and we | | | | Genetics also play a part in the problem. There is |
| have identified a number of things that will trigger | | | | credible evidence that acne is at least partly |
| or make it worse. Acne is most commonly | | | | hereditary, but we don't know exactly why some |
| related to clogging of the sebaceous glands, hair | | | | people are affected and others are not. The |
| follicles or pores of they skin. Often this is due to | | | | general consensus is that genetics create the |
| increased levels of androgens, which are the | | | | potential for problems. Genetics combined with |
| hormones that stimulate the sebaceous (oil) glands | | | | environmental conditions, like clogged pores, |
| in the skin. It is also clear that the bacterial | | | | determines the severity of an outbreak. |
| breakdown of the skin's natural oils into fatty | | | | Anything that effects the outer layer of skin can |
| substances is somehow involved. The cause is | | | | have an effect on the development of acne. This |
| more complex than just having dirty skin, drinking | | | | includes the clothes and postures of an individual. |
| caffeine, stress or eating oily foods such as | | | | Rubbing or abrading the skin, from tight fitting |
| chocolates. These factors can contribute to | | | | clothes on a hot day for instance, can create the |
| outbreaks but research has shown that the cause | | | | conditions that will lead to infection. |
| of acne is actually a combination of many factors. | | | | While many people feel that eating chocolate or |
| The number one cause of acne is puberty. This is | | | | greasy foods causes acne, experts have found |
| due to changes in the hormone levels of the | | | | few links between diet and acne. Interestingly it |
| body. This leads to the overproduction of oils, | | | | may be refined carbohydrates, rather than |
| which leads to clogged pores and infection. An oily | | | | chocolate and greasy foods, that could be the |
| substance called sebum (it's job is to keep skin | | | | cause of teenage acne and pimples. Loren Cordain |
| and hair lubricated and supple) is a main | | | | and scientists at the Colorado State University in |
| contributing factor. During adolescence, excess | | | | Fort Collins have published research showing that |
| amounts of sebum are produced causing pores to | | | | refined carbohydrates, like refined bread and |
| become clogged. The pores then become infected | | | | cereal, unleash a series of reactions in the body, |
| with the bacteria P. acnes, thus the name acne. | | | | increasing the production of bacteria that cause |
| Any buildup of dirt, oils or cosmetics on the skin | | | | acne. In any case, it is important to eat a healthy |
| can begin the cycle that results in acne. A lack of | | | | diet to keep your body in general good health. |
| sufficient exfoliation of skin cells can have the | | | | The cause of acne is a subject that has been |
| same result. The sebaceous gland is just a few | | | | researched extensively by the medical |
| millimeters below the skin's surface. If the top | | | | community. It's likely that the true cause of acne |
| layer of skin is not regularly cleansed and | | | | is a combination of many factors. The basic cause |
| exfoliated to remove pore-clogging dead cells, an | | | | of acne is plugged oil glands. This can be an |
| outbreak is likely. | | | | inherited condition affected by changing hormone |
| Stress can be another major contributing factor | | | | levels within the body. Toxins and wastes are |
| for acne. Although people find this very surprising, | | | | trapped in clogged pores, causing bacterial |
| acne can become more serious as a result of | | | | infection. Many scientists believe genetics, |
| increased stress. The stress alone does not cause | | | | hormones, oil production and diet all play a role. |
| the infection but it may lead to a hormonal | | | | The good news is that numerous studies have |
| imbalance. This imbalance causes excessive oil | | | | shown that the "chocolate factor" is mostly a |
| production which, you guessed it, leads to clogged | | | | myth. |