Wednesday, January 1, 2020
When your pores become blocked with oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells, a blemish can form. Yep, I am talking about acne, the most common skin condition in the U.S. So, what causes acne?
Although it isn’t life-threatening, acne can be painful and can affect your self-esteem.
Read on to find out the causes, symptoms, and treatments that will help you have clear, healthy, and balanced skin.
What Is Acne?
Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder of the oil (sebaceous) glands. There are four grades of acne ranging from minor breakouts to cystic acne with inflammation and tissue damage.
When a pore gets congested with bacteria, dead skin cells, and debris, a plug forms and cause swelling. When the plug starts to break down, a pimple forms.
Most acne is usually not a serious health threat but it can cause scars and cause emotional distress.
Who Gets Acne?
If you suffer from acne breakouts, don’t feel alone. It is the most common skin issue and many people have it. About 40 to 50 millions Americans have acne at any one time. Wow!
Acne mostly affects teenagers and young adults, but it can occur at any age. Acne breakouts can occur at any stage of life and may continue into your 30s and 40s.
In fact, acne is increasing in adults affecting up to 15 percent of women!
I often have female clients in their early to mid-20s that are annoyed that they are still breaking out. I have to mentally prepare them that breakouts may continue for many more years. Thanks to hormones, lifestyle, and well, being a woman. They usually don’t like that news very much.
Hey, I am just the messenger.
For many women, acne can persist for decades.
Ugh, I know, right?!?
Acne flares are common a week before menstruation, and this type of acne tends to clear up without treatment once the hormones balance back out.
Types Of Acne
There are four grades of acne. The number of lesions, blackheads, papules, pustules, or cysts present determines the severity of the acne. Depending on what causes acne in your skin will affect what kind of breakouts you have.
Grade One- Minor breakouts. Mostly blackheads, milia, whiteheads, and a few papules.
Grade Two- Many blackheads and whiteheads with occasional papules and pustules.
Grade Three- Red and inflamed skin. Many blackheads, papules, and pustules
Grade Four- Cystic acne. Cysts with blackheads, papules, pustules, and inflammation. Scarring from tissue damage is common.
Let’s break this down a little more. Here are explanations of what these lesions mean:
Blackhead- A mass of hardened sebum (oil) and skin cells in a hair follicle. When the follicle is filled with an excess of oil, a blackhead forms. It is dark colored because it is exposed to oxygen and oxidizes. They are open plugged pores.
Whitehead- The same as a blackhead but they do not have a follicular opening and not exposed to the air so do not oxidize, making it stay white in color. They are closed plugged pores.
Milia- Are the same as blackheads and whiteheads as they are clogged pores. They are whiteish, pearl-like masses of sebum and dead skin cells under the skin. They are more common in dry skin types.
Papule- A type of pimple that is a small elevation on the skin. They are typically inflamed but they do not contain fluid or produce pus.
Pustule- An inflamed pimple with a white or yellow center containing pus, a fluid consisting of white blood cells, bacteria, and other debris produced from an infection.
Cysts- A closed, abnormally developed sac containing fluid, infection, or other matter above or below the skin.
What Causes Acne?
Here are eight reasons you could be breaking out. What causes acne on your skin could be a result of one or more of these:
1. Genetics
If you tend to have blemishes you may have a hereditary tendency to overproduce dead skin cells that shed and clog your pores, known as retention hyperkeratosis. Excessive oil production can overtax these pores and cause further cell buildup. This can lead to acne breakouts.
2. Clogged Pores
Pores on your skin can get clogged with oil, dry skin cells, and debris which block the follicle. Clogged pores can be open (blackhead) or closed by skin (whitehead) and occur with or without more severe cases of acne.
3. Bacteria
Extra oil production can plug pores, causing the growth of a bacteria known as P. acnes. Bacteria cannot live in the presence of oxygen. When your pores are blocked with oil and dead skin cells, oxygen cannot reach the bottom of the pores. This results in bacteria growth.
4. Hormones
Certain hormones stimulate your oil glands and increase oil production. Although it’s typically associated with hormone fluctuations during puberty when acne is first evident, hormonal acne can affect adults of any age. It’s especially common in women.
A number of factors may contribute to this, including birth control pills, premenstrual changes, pregnancy, and menopause. These hormonal changes cause inflammation in the skin. Hormonal acne is often seen on the chin and jawline.
5. Stress
Stress causes hormonal fluctuations and increases oil production which can clog pores. During times of stress, the adrenal glands release a wave of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol which are your fight-or-flight hormones. Adrenaline helps you cope with stressful events, but it also stimulates the oil glands, which can cause breakouts.
6. Foods
Your eating habits can negatively affect how your body functions. Salt, cheese, processed and packaged foods, especially fast foods, can all irritate acne. The excess iodides and minerals obtained in these foods are excreted through the pores and can irritate them.
7. Cosmetics
Certain ingredients in products can aggravate acne. Fatty ingredients such as waxes and mineral and petroleum-based oils can clog or irritate pores. These ingredients can cause cells to build up and cause inflammation.
8. Other Irritations
Touching or picking your face, rubbing, using your cell phone, and wearing hats can contribute to acne breakouts. Bacteria can be spread by dirty pillowcases and makeup brushes. Be sure to keep your hands or items that touch your face clean. This will help reduce breakouts.
What Doesn’t Cause Acne
You now know what causes acne, but contrary to popular belief, these factors have little effect on acne:
Greasy Foods- Ok, I know I just said above that foods can cause acne. Yes, some foods can affect how the body functions and as a side effect can cause acne in some people. That being said, if you eat greasy foods then doesn’t mean you will automatically get pimples. Indulge in some good greasy foods once in a while, you won’t start sprouting acne.
The only time greasy foods can lead to constant breakouts is if you work in a kitchen with fryers. The oil can stick to your skin and block the pores. This further irritates and promotes acne breakouts.
Hygiene- What causes acne isn’t dirty skin. It actually annoys me when I see “dirt” as a cause of congestion and breakouts. In fact, over-cleansing and scrubbing the skin can cause irritation, dryness and make acne worse.
Acne Symptoms
Acne symptoms will vary depending on the severity of your condition but here what to look for:
- Blackheads
- Whiteheads
- Milia
- Small red, tender bumps (papules)
- Pimples (pustules) that contain bacteria and pus
- Large, solid painful lumps beneath the surface of the skin
- Painful, pus-filled lumps beneath the surface of the skin
- Dark spots on the skin after a blemish heals. It can take months or even years for the dark spots to disappear.
- Scars that form after a breakout clears
Not only does acne affect the appearance of the skin, but it also can affect your mental well being. Here are a few acne symptoms has on the emotions:
- Lowers self-esteem and can make you feel bad about yourself
- Depression from low self-esteem and embarrassment about your condition.
Acne typically appears on your face, forehead, chest. Upper back and shoulders. These areas have the most oil (sebaceous) glands with hair follicles attached, commonly known as pores.
The pores may become clogged with plugs of debris, skin cells, and excess oil. Blocked pores can become inflamed or infected with bacteria. Blockages and inflammation that develop deep inside hair follicles produce lumps beneath the surface of your skin.
Acne Treatments
Depending on what causes acne on your skin, you may not be able to completely eliminate breakouts. You can find relief through topical skin care products.
If you have mild forms of acne then you want to use products that slow down sebum (oil) production, that limits bacterial growth, and encourages shedding of skin cells that clog pores. If you have more severe cases of acne then you will need to talk to a doctor about the best treatments.
Topical Treatments:
Salicylic Acid- Is a chemical exfoliate that may help prevent clogged pores. It is an antiseptic and has mild antibacterial properties that are effective against mild forms of acne. There are many products that contain salicylic acid to combat acne breakouts.
Cleansers- Look for cleansers that are made for treating acne. They will contain ingredients that help zap blemishes. Look for cleansers with glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or sulfur.
Glycolic Acid- Is an alpha hydroxy acid that exfoliates the skin. It helps slough off dead skin cells that can clog pores. Products containing glycolic acid help tackle mild forms of acne.
Retinol- Is an anti-inflammatory that helps clear up acne because it causes skin cells to turn over at a faster rate, decrease oil production, and helps exfoliate the skin.
Tea Tree Essential Oil- has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps reduce inflammation caused by acne. It also helps prevent mild acne breakouts. Best used as a spot treatment.
Herbal Remedies- There are many herbs that are good for treating acne.
If any of these treatments don’t make your breakouts better after six to eight weeks then it is time to talk to your doctor.
Tips For Managing Acne
You can help reduce your acne breakouts by following these skin care tips:
1. Cleanse Your Skin– Rinse your skin with water in the morning and use a cleanser at night. Also, be sure to rinse your skin after working out or sweating. Sweat can make acne worse, especially if you are wearing a hat. Be sure not to over-cleanse as this can dry the skin out too much and make your oil glands produce more oil to moisturize itself.
2. Don’t Rub Your Skin- When applying skin care or cleansing your skin, be sure to use your fingertips. Avoid rubbing your skin with a washcloth, sponge, or anything else that can irritate the skin.
3. Be Gentle- Be sure to use gentle skin care products that are made for acne-prone skin. Use products that won’t irritate, dry out, or make skin care inflamed. Astringents, alcohol-based toners, and exfoliants can make acne worse.
4. Don’t Use A Face Scrub- Using a face scrub can worsen acne symptoms. If you have weeping acne, a scrub can cause irritation, spread bacteria, and do more damage than good.
Don’t Pop, Pick, Or Squeeze- Let your skin heal naturally. Leave the extractions to the professionals. If you pick at your acne incorrectly, then you increase the risk of getting acne scars. You could also spread bacteria causing more blemishes to form.
5. Keep Your Hands Off Your Face- Unless you have squeaky clean hands, which you don’t, don’t touch your skin throughout the day. This can cause flare-ups, spread bacteria, and cause acne to linger longer than necessary.
6. Don’t Do Too Much- If you are trying a topical product, give it a few weeks. Don’t over-cleanse, over exfoliate, or put too many products on your skin. This will just throw it off balance and do damage.
When To See A Doctor
Getting a facial and self-care remedies are a great way to treat your breakouts but if your skin doesn’t get clear of acne, then it is time to see your primary care doctor or a dermatologist.
They can help figure out what causes acne on your skin. If acne persists or is severe, then only a medical doctor can help alleviate symptoms. They can prescribe stronger medications or do hormone or blood tests to check that everything is working as it should.
If your acne is making you feel shy, ashamed, or embarrassed then it is time to talk to a doctor.
Also, if the products you have tried are not working, then see a doctor. If you notice that your breakouts are leaving scars or darkening your skin, see a doctor. This can be easily avoided so be sure to talk to a professional to get help.
Bottom Line
At some point in your life, you will deal with acne. It is good to know what causes acne so you can do your best to avoid breakouts and to treat it the best way possible.
If everything you are trying isn’t working, then it is time to see a doctor. Also, don’t go overboard with trying to get rid of your acne on your own, you could end up doing more damage than good.
If you are wanting the best skin care for acne-prone skin than start here. And remember, your skin is beautiful no matter what. Acne and all!
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