If you are plagued with acne, it is best to discover what’s behind it, so that you can look for a meaningful and lasting treatment for it. You need to be cautious about where you go and what information you get there about the causes of acne and the possible treatments, so that you will not be confused or misled.
You may have been wondering what are the causes of acne and probably have not been able to find any meaningful solution to this big mystery. Well, here’s the true revelation of the cause of this skin ailment. Acne is a disorder of the pilosebaceous unit; this unit is made up of the hair follicle, the hair and the sebaceous gland. Apart from few parts of the body, the components of the pilosebaceous unit are found at every other part of the body. The exceptions are the soles of the feet, the palms, the lower lip and the top of the feet.
The pilosebaceous unit elements are more on particular parts of your body than others; those parts are the face, the chest and the upper neck. The substance that is responsible for the moisturizing of the skin and hair is produced by the sebaceous glands; this substance is known as sebum. The sebaceous gland gets big in adolescence, thereby producing more sebum. The production of more sebum by the sebaceous gland during adolescence is greatly influenced by certain hormones known as the androgens. However, the production of sebum gets smaller again after the teenage years. So, how does acne develop from the processes described?
The Reality about Causes of Acne
Acne is not caused by a single factor; there are many factors that influence the birth of this skin condition. The sad part of it all is that most of these factors are beyond your control. As mentioned before, the rate of sebum generation is impacted by hormone balance which differs constantly. There’s also the role of genetics in the development of acne and its resistant to certain treatments. In essence, your family history can also be pointed at when asking how this skin condition came to be.
The Major Causes of Acne
Acne is traceable to some major factors which include;
- Hormones
Most people plagued with acne can have their problems traced to puberty years, the period in which the androgens hormones are produced. The enlargement of the sebaceous glands by the androgens is something that occurs naturally. However, there is overstimulation of the sebaceous gland by androgens in those who has acne. In some individuals, this overstimulation extends to their adulthood.
- Follicle Shedding
Naturally, the dead cells found within the follicle falls out slowly onto the surface of the skin. However, the sebaceous glands are more active in certain individuals and nearly in every person during puberty. This results in an increased dropping of the dead cells. When the dead skin cell combines with excess of sebum, a plug is formed in the follicle, interrupting the completion of the skin’s natural renewal process. This can also results in acne.
In addition to the elements shown previously, a specific bacteria called bacterium Propionibacterium acnes, is also responsible for this skin condition. Now that you know the cause(s) of acne, it will be much easier to know what treatments to seek. Click here to learn more about the causes of acne.

