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Acne – Causes and Evaluation

Causes for acne include follicle blockage, hormonal changes, genetic factors, medications, diet, psychological, etc. High stress levels may cause acne flare-ups. It is largely accepted that acne is caused due to excess sebum production. Dirt does not cause acne.

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<p><strong>Causes and Evaluation of Acne<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>New York &lpar;USA&rpar;&comma; June 19&comma; 2013<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>Causes of Acne<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Causes for acne include&colon;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>Follicle Blockage&colon;<&sol;strong> Hair follicles exist all over your skin except your soles and palms&period; Hair grows very deep inside your skin and comes out through a pore&period; Sebaceous glands underneath your skin secrete sebum&comma; an oily substance&comma; to lubricate skin and hair&period; Hair follicles are connected to these glands&period; Sebum moves up along hair shafts and comes out of your skin through hair follicles&period; Sometimes your body secretes excess sebum&period; This combined with dead skin cells choke hair follicles leading to acne&period; This blockage also creates a conducive environment for bacteria to thrive&period; Blockage could bulge follicle to form a whitehead&period; Sometimes it darkens into a blackhead&period; These blockages swell within your skin to form lumps&period; These are cysts&period; Sometimes these blocked hair follicles get infected or inflamed&period; They turn into raised red spots with a white center forming a pimple&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>Hormonal&colon;<&sol;strong> During puberty&comma; your body secretes androgens&comma; a male sex hormone&period; This enlarges sebaceous glands and sebum production increases leading to acne&period; In women&comma; hormonal changes occur during menstrual cycles&comma; pregnancy&comma; and menopause&period; These cause acne&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>Genetic&colon;<&sol;strong> Acne often occurs due to genetic factors&period; A family history of acne is common and young boys in these families develop acne early in life&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>Medications&colon;<&sol;strong> Certain drugs like lithium&comma; corticosteroids&comma; and androgens cause acne&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>Diet&colon;<&sol;strong> If you eat foods that are rich in glycemics&comma; acne develops and worsens&period; Foods rich in carbohydrates like bread&comma; chips&comma; and bagels or dairy products increase blood sugar levels leading to acne&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>Psychological&colon;<&sol;strong> High stress levels may cause acne flare-ups&period; Emotional stress&comma; stress at the workplace&comma; or stress due to any reason leads to acne&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>Evaluation of Acne<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>There is no conclusive evidence of what causes acne&period; It is largely accepted that acne is caused due to excess sebum production&period; Dirt does not cause acne&period; Rather&comma; over-scrubbing of skin or using harsh chemicals and soaps irritates skin and worsens acne&period; Clean skin gently to remove excess oil and dead skin cells&period; Genetic causes for acne have not been researched in detail&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;health&sol;2016-150130-acne-definition-diagnosis&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Acne &&num;8211&semi; Definition and Diagnosis<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Definition and Diagnosis of Acne<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;health&sol;2016-150132-acne-signs-symptoms&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Acne &&num;8211&semi; Signs and Symptoms<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Signs and Symptoms of Acne<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;health&sol;2016-150133-acne-complications-risk-factors&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Acne &&num;8211&semi; Complications and Risk Factors<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Complications and Risk Factors for Acne<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;health&sol;2016-150134-acne-diagnostic-tests-procedures&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Acne &&num;8211&semi; Diagnostic Tests and Procedures<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Diagnostic Tests and Procedures for Acne<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;health&sol;2016-150135-acne-treatments-medications&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Acne &&num;8211&semi; Treatments and Medications<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Treatments and Medications for Acne<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;health&sol;2016-150136-acne-clinical-trials-research-studies&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Acne &&num;8211&semi; Clinical Trials and Research Studies<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Clinical Trials and Research Studies on Acne<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;health&sol;2016-150137-acne-home-remedies-alternative-therapies&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Acne &&num;8211&semi; Home Remedies and Alternative Therapies<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Home Remedies and Alternative Therapies for Acne<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;health&sol;2016-150138-acne-prevention-coping&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Acne &&num;8211&semi; Prevention and Coping<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Prevention and Coping with Acne<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;health&sol;2016-150139-acne-lifestyle-changes-self-help&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Acne &&num;8211&semi; Lifestyle Changes and Self-Help<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Lifestyle Changes and Self-Help for Acne<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;articles&sol;2016-5013-acne-prevention-treatment-remedies&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Acne &&num;8211&semi; Prevention&comma; Treatment&comma; and Remedies<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Acne &&num;8211&semi; Causes&comma; Symptoms&comma; Diagnosis&comma; Prevention&comma; Treatment&comma; and Remedies<&sol;p>&NewLine;

Written By:
Dr. Marilyn Thompson