Causes of acne
Acne vulgaris, a medical term commonly called acne, is a skin condition, caused by changes in hair follicles (often called pores) and their sebaceous glands.
Acne vulgaris affects the areas of skin with the densest population of sebaceous follicle, which include such areas as the face, the upper part of the chest, and the back. It starts in sebaceous hair follicles (pores) where sebaceous glands produce sebum (the oil that keeps the skin moist). Since the skin continuously renews itself as the old cells die, it sheds, making room for new skin. This sheding is different in each individual. The dead skin can shed evenly or unevenly. When it sheds unevenly it causes dead cells to clump together and to plug pores. The plug, called comedo traps oil and bacteria inside the follicle. Since sebaceous glands continue producing oil in the follicle, the whole are begin to swell, leading to inflammatory conditions. This is the body’s defense mechanism. It releases a bunch of white blood cells to surround the bacteria trapped in the follicle. Within a few weeks a pimple is formed.
Ance is caused by a combination of different factors, such as:
- Bacteria trapped in the follicle,
- Overproduction of oil in sebaceoous glands – at puberty, the body begins to produce androgens, hormones that cause the sebaceous glands to be overstimulated.
- uneven skin sheding,
- and the body’s own defence mechanism
- Family/Genetic history. The tendency to develop acne runs in families.
- Hormonal activity, such as menstrual cycles and puberty.
- Use of anabolic steroids
- Any medication containing lithium, barbiturates or androgens.
- Exposure to chemical compounds, such as Chlorinated dioxins.
- Exposure to halogens.
- Chronic use of amphetamines or other similar drugs
