What Are The Causes of Acne?

Like in any other skin disease and disorder, acne may be caused by a number of reasons. In addition, there are lots of contributing factors such that, until now, there is still no complete cure for the skin disease. These factors may range from the food items you eat and the body’s response to them, to the methods you use in preserving the health of your body and skin.

Medically, there are three main causes of acne:

• hormonal imbalance
• bacteria P. acnes
• over production of the oily substance sebum by the sebaceous glands

Diet plays some role in acne development, the extent to which it is true for any individual varies though. It is chiefly the lack (or the addition) of certain nutrients in the food items you consume. Under certain conditions, the body may act in response to the food through the secretion of some hormones that can initiate the onset of acne. According to studies, the chemical balance or imbalance of the body may be due to the body’s reaction to certain chemicals, and in some cases hormones, found in foods.

Research studies strongly indicate that the good bacteria (or probiotics) help a lot in the maintenance of the skin, and in the elimination of the causes of the skin disorders. Good bacteria help in the digestive process in the bowel, and help keep the populations of harmful bacteria in check. Both these factors contribute to good health, because bacterial endotoxins from bad bacteria can cause problems in the gut, and sometimes the skin. This is because the skin is also an elimination channel.

To stress the point, it is certainly not the food item that triggers the outbreak of acne but the process of decomposition of certain food items in the digestive system which adds to the aggravation of the acne breakout.
between the two is not yet firmly established). Improper digestion also plays a role.

Often, this is caused by lack of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. For this reason, the body may not be able to absorb the essential nutrients of the food, items thus weakening the immune system. In return, the white blood cells present in the skin tissues are more susceptible to being eaten or invaded by the bacteria. Thus, even if your nutrient intake is sufficient and you have a well-balanced diet, the spread of acne bacteria may be unhindered. This may be corrected through taking food supplements.

Also, some people may be gluten intolerant. This means their bodies react to some of the proteins found in gluten and related grains, like rye and barley. Acne can be a consequence for some people with this condition, which is more common than previously thought, and often under-diagnosed. Traditional tests may come up negative, because they only measure gluten intolerance when it is in the equivalent of the 'heart attack' stage. There is an online, accredited medical lab that provides more sensitive testing. (http://www.enterolab.com)

Cosmetics may also inhibit the onset of the acne through the chemical found in them. It is not ideal for an acne-afflicted person to use oil-based cosmetics, not even those that are labeled oil free. Legally speaking, such cosmetics may really have no oil content in them. However synthetic oil may be as equally bad as those organic oils. Additionally, oil-based cosmetics will increase the oil present in the skin, thus creating a stronger breeding ground for P. acnes bacteria. Water-based cosmetics may also worsen the acne condition in some cases, as they could contain certain chemicals to which the skin tissues react. To be safe, an acne-inflicted person must at any rate, avoid the use of cosmetics, or carefully monitor their cosmetic choices. 

Recent finding show that stress may trigger an acne breakout. It has been established in some studies that  stress is one factor which may aggravate the condition of acne.

Weather, such as heat and humidity, may also contribute to a worsening of acne breakouts. On the other hand, it is not good to wash the skin as often as you think you should. A limit of two times a day is recommended by dermatologists. Scrubbing or rubbing the face excessively will irritate the skin, making it dry and sore. This can make acne worse.

Lastly, scratching the pimples is not good as it may only infect the skin.