What Is The True Cause Of Acne
Dean Shainin

Acne is a very commonplace chronic skin condition that the precise cause has yet to be determined. Most medical researchers and practitioners believe that there is no single cause for acne but that it results from a number of related factors. One such factor is the hormonal changes in the body.

Studies have revealed that hormones known as androgens often trigger the formation of acne because they enlarge the sebaceous glands in the skin. This results in the glands increasing the production of sebum. The increased sebum blocks the pores in the skin and provides more food for acne causing bacteria. Androgen hormones are present in females as well as males. A sudden increase in these hormones takes place at puberty. Besides acne, these hormonal changes are why teenagers develop armpit and pubic hair and why boys develop facial hair and deeper voices.

There is a bacterium known as propionibacterium acne (or simply P. acne). This bacterium feeds off the sweat and oil secretion on the skin and is considered to be a large contributor to the development of acne. These bacteria cause acne when they feed on sweat and skin oil and excrete substances that in their turn cause redness and inflammation of the skin. They also make enzymes that dissolve in the sebum to create byproducts that worsen the inflammation.

Female hormones, or estrogens, are also largely responsible for the development of acne in females. A woman's monthly menstrual cycle is a result of changes in her estrogen levels. Because of this, it is quite normal for the acne condition in females to get better or worse, depending on the progression of her monthly menstrual cycle. Doctors are likely to recommend birth control pills that help to control this estrogen activity and thereby reduce the risk of an acne outbreak.

Acne can also be caused by genetic makeup. While strong hereditary ties have not been completely established, it has been observed that acne has a tendency to be passed on to subsequent generations. Such genetic tendencies for acne do not have many preventive treatments or cures.

There are other reasons why there are acne outbreaks. These reasons include, but are not limited to, stress, misuse of cosmetics, medication side effects and irregular or unhealthy diet. The connection between these factors and acne might be very weak but that does not change the fact that these small contributions can lead to major acne problems. Stress and diet are two sensitive areas that can particularly aggravate a bad skin condition. 

As had been stated earlier, acne is suspected to result from a number of factors and no exclusive cause has been determined. In such a case, the only choice left is to make the right choices in your lifestyle and avoid all possible factors that can cause or aggravate an acne problem and, as always, consult your doctor before taking any medication.