Though acne is supposed to go away after the teen years, it can often persist for many years. In this short post we will discuss several causes of acne, including: hormones, diet, bacteria and cosmetics.
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Below are 4 common causes of acne:
Hormones
Teenage acne is thought to be triggered by increased levels of a hormone called testosterone, which occurs during puberty. The hormone plays an important role in stimulating the growth and development of the penis and testicles in boys, and maintaining muscle and bone strength in girls.
– The sebaceous glands are particularly sensitive to hormones. It’s thought that increased levels of testosterone cause the glands to produce much more sebum than the skin needs. Source: NHS
Diet
Studies indicate that certain dietary factors, including dairy products and carbohydrate-rich foods — such as bread, bagels and chips — may trigger acne. Chocolate has long been suspected of making acne worse. A recent study of 14 men with acne showed that eating chocolate was related to an increase in acne. Further study is needed to examine why this happens or whether acne patients need to follow specific dietary restrictions. Source: MayoClinic
Bacteria
1. acnes, the acne bacteria, gets a pretty bad rep. People assume that you kill the bacteria and you kill the acne. However, p. acnes exists on everyone’s skin, whether it’s clear or riddled with pimples.
P. acnes feeds off sebum. With acne-prone skin, there is usually an overproduction of sebum or sebum doesn’t get sloughed off properly and gets trapped in hair follicles, either way creating fertile grounds for p. acnes growth.
You can kill off p. acnes, but it will keep coming back as long as it can make a home in your skin. Destroy the home and destroy the bacteria. Source: Skinacea
Cosmetics
Zit-causing ingredients could be lurking on your beauty shelf. Unlike most prescriptions, however, you do have control over what you put on your face and hair. Acne caused by topical creams, lotions, and makeup is known as Acne Cosmetica, and is most common on the face, neck, hairline, and scalp. 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, Fusco says, 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 a type of acne known as Folliculitis. Fusco recommends cleaning makeup brushes once a week to keep them gunk-free and face-friendly. Source: WomensHealthMag
Contact:
Beautiful Canadian Laser & Skin Care Clinic
13805 104 Ave #101, Surrey, BC V3T 1W7
(604) 580-2464
