Causes of Acne

No one is totally sure what causes acne. Researchers believe the primary causes of acne is an increase in the level of  hormone called androgen. Rising androgen levels make the oil glands under your skin grow and the enlarged gland produces more oil. Excessive oil can break down cellular walls in your pores, causing bacteria to grow.

Some studies indicate that certain factors might cause acne. Some of the factors includes:

• Greasy makeup
• Hormonal change during pregnancy
• Birth control pills
• Heredity
• Some types of medication
• Hormone increase in teenage years
  

Greasy makeup

Unlike most prescriptions, you do have control over what you put on your face and hair. Using the wrong makeup or cream could actually bring out the pimples you're trying so hard to hide.

If you regularly apply a product to an acne-prone area, it’s possible that it's doing more harm than good. Some people may also go to bed with ointments or oils in their hair that can get on the pillow case and then rub on your face, in which case it’s best to put a clean towel over your pillowcase every night to prevent buildup.

Makeup brushes are constantly collecting leftover makeup and gathering bacteria and yeast, which can lead to acne. Therefore cleaning makeup brushes once a week to keep them gunk-free and face-friendly.

Caring for acne-prone skin requires some careful cosmetic search.  Reading labels to find products that won't clog your pores and lead to more breakouts.

Hormonal change during pregnancy

More than one out of every two pregnant women can expect to develop acne. The primary cause of acne when you're pregnant is the increased hormone levels in the first trimester. If you do not develop acne during the first trimester, it's unlikely you'll have breakouts that are out of the ordinary during the second or third trimesters.

Acne during pregnancy is a natural condition. It usually drops when hormone levels return to normal. So the safest thing to do is to avoid any prescription acne medications or over-the-counter chemical spot treatments. Instead, you can rely on drug-free home remedies. But before starting any acne treatment when you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about what's best and safest  for you.

Birth control pills

Oral contraceptives are the most common cause of acne. Whenever there is a change in hormone levels in your body, it's a change that can result in breakouts. Even though birth control is supposed to have the opposite effect, the change in hormone levels requires time for your body to compensate and balance itself.

Typically birth control pills are divided up as estrogen or progestin dominant and have varying degrees of androgenic (testosterone) like effects. As a general rule of thumb, pills with the potential for higher androgenic symptoms should be avoided for people prone to acne because they promote breakouts.

Heredity

Most likely acne has a hereditary component to it, but it is not completely a genetic disease. There is not one gene responsible for developing acne. It is likely a combination of  thousands of genes that put someone at risk.

The interaction of an individual's genetic background that comes from parents and their environment determine if someone develops acne. So, if you had acne, and your daughter had acne, your grandson probably has a higher risk of developing it.

Some research suggests that family history of acne is associated with earlier occurrence of acne, increased number of retention lesions and therapeutic difficulties.  Teenage acne may be considered normal, but when there's a visible family history and an unhappy adolescent, it's important for parents to let their teens know there are other options to consider

 Some types of medication are the causes of acne

Some type of prescription or over the counter medication can aggravate acne. Steroids found in some prescription drugs are one of the causes of acne. Whether this steroid containing medication taken internally or topical, it can cause acne. For example,  Prednisone is one of the ingredient used to treat a wide variety of inflammatory disorders such as allergies, and arthritis. Cortisone and hydrocortisone is also a topical medication, if either form is overused it could aggravate or cause a steroid acne. 

Other ingredients such as lithium, lithium chloride, and certain forms of iodine could also be the causes of acne.  If you're taking any kind of medication, check it out and see if acne is listed in the adverse effects column.

Hormone increase in teenage years

Androgens are hormones that increase in boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. This hormone can cause an outbreak of acne ( pimples).

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prescriptions medication, over-the-counter, home remedies, acne treatment, topical medication