What causes Acne?

A ready reckoner of the different types and causes of acne.

Acne is a skin disorder resulting from the action of hormones on the skin's oil glands (sebaceous glands), which leads to plugged pores and outbreaks of lesions commonly called pimples or zits. Acne lesions usually occur on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Although acne is not a serious disorder, severe acne can lead to disfiguring, temporary as well as permanent scarring, which can be in turn upsetting to people who are affected by the malady.

If only there was an age group in which acne could be slotted! Unfortunately this isn’t so. The truth is that from the teens to the fabulous 40’s and beyond, acne is a condition that affects almost everyone at some time in their lives. Affecting men and women alike, research indicates that nearly 85 percent of adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12 and 24 develop the condition, and some people continue to be affected into their forties and fifties. 

Types of Acne

People with this malady may encounter a variety of lesions. The different types of acne lesion are:
1. Whitehead - The basic acne lesion, called the comedo is simply an enlarged and plugged hair follicle. If the plugged follicle, or comedo, stays beneath the skin, it is called a closed comedo and produces a white bump called a whitehead. 

2. Blackhead - A comedo that reaches the surface of the skin and opens up is called a blackhead because it looks black on the skin's surface. This black discoloration is not due to dirt. Both whiteheads and blackheads may stay in the skin for a long time.

3. Papules - Inflamed lesions that usually appear as small, pink bumps on the skin and can be tender to the touch 

4. Pustules (pimples) - Papules topped by pus-filled lesions that may be red at the base 

5. Nodules - Large, painful, solid lesions that are lodged deep within the skin 

6. Cysts--Deep, painful, pus-filled lesions that can cause scarring. 

What Causes Acne?

Research has it that acne is a result from several related factors. One important factor is an increase in hormones called androgens. These increase in both boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy or starting or stopping birth control pills can also cause acne.

Another factor is heredity or genetics. Researchers believe that the tendency to develop acne can be inherited from parents. Studies have shown that many school-age boys with acne have a family history of the disorder. 

Factors that can cause acne breakout also include:
1. Changing hormone levels in adolescent girls and adult women 
2. Friction caused by leaning on or rubbing the skin
3. Shave carefully 
4. Pressure from bike helmets, backpacks, or tight collars 
5. Environmental irritants, such as pollution and high humidity 
6. Squeezing or picking at blemishes 
7. Hard scrubbing of the skin. 
8. Incorrect Acne Treatment.