Acne is a major skin concern keeping many individuals away from feeling confident and good about their skin, it is there in adults and teenagers around the world. On the face, back, shoulders, and chest, acne emerges as painful cysts, whiteheads, blackheads, or pimples.
Conventionally, acne is believed to be caused due to lack of hygiene or oily skin, however, the reality is highly intricate and beyond just this. To receive proper treatment for acne and know more, read through this blog and educate yourself about what acne is primarily caused by, and useful tips to manage it.
What Is Acne – What You Need To Know?
The clogging of hair follicles in the skin due to dead skin cells, bacteria, and oil are the factor causing acne. Our skin pores have a sebaceous gland. This gland promotes moisture by producing oil. When oil is produced excessively or there is a blockage in the pores, it forms the basis for bacteria to multiply. Other issues such as breakouts and inflammation, follow. Genes, lifestyle habits, added stress, unhealthy diet, and hormonal disturbance contribute to either causing mild or severe acne.
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Acne – Underlying Causes
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Hormonal Disturbances
When the androgens present in both women and men are not stabilized and keep fluctuating, it turns out to be one of the major causes for hormonal acne. One role that androgens play is stimulation of sebaceous glands and an increase in the oil production, leading to skin issues. Generally, you will witness hormonal acne around the chin, cheeks, and jawline. Majorly during pregnancy, once an individual hits puberty, at the time of menstruation, women with PCOS, at menopause, and due to high stress levels this mostly happens. Hormones have a direct impact on oil glands – this is why acne occurs during certain phases.
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Increase In Sebum Production
If you paid attention ever, men and women with oily skin mostly struggle with oily skin. Oil is essential to retain skin moisture, and that role is best played by the sebaceous glands. However, when it is produced in excess, it is bad to the skin by clogging pores. There are certain influencing factors triggering excess sebum production. Some of them are the humid climate, hormonal changes, an increase in stress, and excessively cleansing the skin tends to increase oil production.
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Presence of Bacteria
Bacterial presence on the skin is normal, but when it is over-trapped by clogged pores, it can turn problematic and cause Cutibacterium acnes. This acne only increases and leads to swollen pimples and inflammation. Usually, they are red in color. To treat these acne-causing bacteria, it is essential to try benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics.
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Blocked Pores and Existence Of Dead Skin Cells
Excess oil is the main root cause of all bigger problems. While dead skin cells are naturally present and cleaning them is a part of skincare, everything is smooth-sailing. On the other hand, when oil mixes with dead skin cells, it clogs the pores. Clogging makes it challenging to release oil from the skin and this further causes other inflammatory acne issues, blackheads, and whiteheads. The other reasons for clogging to take place are comedogenic skincare products, lack of cleansing, external pollution, and sweating.
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Basic Lifestyle & Diet Alterations
Acne due to diet or stress? The answer is, it can occur because of food and even due to excessive stress. However, you will not see its impacts directly. It is the food you eat and habits that directly trigger acne situations. Which foods aggravate acne? – sugary products, fast foods, fried foods, bread, rice, and beverages. The main acne-causing ingredient is sugar. It goes inside and causes a disturbance. While even stress can cause acne, it is the disturbance in hormonal action that increases oil production, leading to furthermore complications such as inflammation.
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Pre-existing Genetic Background
Genetics plays a crucial role in increasing your chances of having acne. If your parents or anyone close from your family has it, you are prone to struggle with acne. Knowing the main cause of acne is due to genes, it can be managed with essential and safe products. Usually, what influences acne related to genes is the pore size, the ability of the inflammatory response, the effectiveness of oil gland activity, and the overall skin cell turnover rate.
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Improper Skin Care Habits & Lack Of External Care
Some of the other factors that cause acne are related to daily skin care routine and not protecting the skin as much as it should be given the right care to remain healthy. What can aggravate acne is leaving makeup on the skin for many hours, using skincare products that cause irritation, letting sunscreen and makeup stay on the skin for long, using uncomfortable and tight clothing, causing acne mechanics, and intake of certain steroids. If an individual can identify these triggers at the right time, breakouts can be prevented.
Prevention and Acne Management Tips
- Wash your face twice with a pH-balanced and skin-suitable cleanser
- Don’t scrub too much or in a harsh manner; the existing inflammation will worsen
- If you struggle with acne already, avoid using comedogenic skincare and makeup. Always stick to non-comedogenic products
- All skincare specialists recommend skin care products having active ingredients such as adapalene, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and niacinamide
- Never forget to clean your makeup before hitting the bed
- Choose gel-based and oil-free sunscreen, and use it regularly
Appropriate Medical Regimen
If your acne is present for a long period of time and despite changing lifestyle and dietary habits, if you don’t notice a difference, you could be struggling with severe acne and consulting a dermatologist is essential. Some of the treatment methods are:
- To reduce inflammation and acne scars, the use of light and laser therapy
- If you are struggling with hormone-related acne, it is essential to do a hormonal therapy
- Unclogging pores with chemical peels
- Use of antibiotics to prevent the bacterial growth from increasing
Lifestyle Changes
- Exercise regularly and calm your mind with practicing meditation at least thrice a week – this will slowly teach you how to manage stress
- Eat a protein and whole-grains-rich diet
- Keep hydrating yourself and drink sufficient water
- Skin can be repaired with a good night’s sleep
- To avoid scarring, do not touch pimples
When to See A Dermatologist?
- Cystic acne
- No results from over-the-counter products
- Low self-confidence
- Scars or dark spots
- Brings down self-confidence
Conclusion
Knowing what acne is primarily caused by is mandatory to help manage the condition. Acne is not like a small pimple on the skin that will come and go. It occurs due to several habits and other external factors. For acne to improve, use the right products, keep stress at bay, take treatment if necessary, and avoid foods that will worsen the situation.
You are not alone in overcoming this challenge. At Dr. Puneet Madan’s Aesthetics, we are committed to providing skilled dermatological care by tailoring skin treatment plans as per our patients’ problems. Dr. Puneet Madan spends quality time deep-diving into the root of each concern and helps reverse it by assisting you in restoring shining, smooth, and youthful skin.
FAQs
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What are the main causes of acne in adults?
Adults suffer from acne due to poor lifestyle habits, medication, and excess stress. This hormonal imbalance terribly messes with adults.
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What are the causes of acne on the cheeks and forehead?
The main cause of acne on the face is due to bacterial presence in the things used on the face. In the hair, it might occur due to unhealthy products, stress, and sweat.
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Does stress cause acne?
Overstimulation of oil glands is due to disturbed cortisol levels. This further causes inflammation.
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Can oily food cause acne?
Yes, oily food increases sebum production leaving the skin bad and inflamed.
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How to stop acne naturally?
Natural remedies such as sufficient water intake, good skincare routine, or stress management can stop acne to a great extent. However, for a few individuals, besides home remedies they even need to see a dermatologist.
