Acne Causes and Treatments

Acne normally shows up in adolescents as they begin to go through puberty. It normally goes away when a person is in their early 20's, but for some not so lucky people it can continue into their 30's and beyond.

Acne is most often caused by a male sex hormone that is present in both the male and female genders. This male sex hormone increases during puberty. Acne can also be caused by follicles becoming blocked. Whiteheads are the pimples that appear as little bumps with a white top, center, or core. The whiteheads are caused when the pores in your skin become clogged, or blocked with sebum. Sebum is an oil that is common and natural to everyone. The sebum and dead skin cells build up in the skins pores and causes a blockage, which then turns into a whitehead.

Acne is most often noticed on the face and upper neck areas. The chest, back, and shoulders also can be other spots where acne forms. Because the face is the one part of the body that is never covered, acne is noticed more there and can cause self esteem issues. Since acne breakouts can get severe, some tend to develop low self esteem and become embarrassed with their looks. Acne can also lead to depression. A person with acne can feel too insecure to be seen by anyone, especially in public.

There are many causes of acne. These causes can include, but are not limited to, family and genetic history, hormonal activities, such as menstruation and puberty, inflammation, skin irritation and itching, stress, and hyperactive sebaceous glands. Other causes are accumulation of dead skin cells, bacteria in the pores, use of steroids, any medication containing barbiturates, lithium, or androgens, exposure to halogens, and chronic use of amphetamines. There are other causes, and still may more causes being researched.

There are many available acne treatments, and many more being researched. A treatment that works for one person may not necessarily work for another person. Some commonly used treatments are topical bactericidals, topical antibiotics, oral antibiotics, hormonal treatments, topical retinoids, oral retinoids, phototherapy which uses red and blue lights, photodynamic therapy, and laser treatments. Other less common used treatments include aloe vera, heat, naproxen or ibuprofen, vitamin B3, tea tree oil, zinc, and detoxification.

Since acne has so many causes, determining what is causing yours may help in determining what treatment is right for you. You may need to try several different treatments before you find the one that works best for you.