Acne

There can be various causes of acne. Most common causes are listed here:

i) Oily skin: There are pores in the skin that connect to sebaceous (oil) glands underneath. The glands produce an oily liquid called sebum which carries dead skin cells through the follicles to the surface of the skin. A small hair grows through the follicle out of the skin. A follicle is made of a hair and sebaceous gland. Pimple begins to grow when these follicles get blocked, and oil builds up under the skin. A plug is formed by the skin cells, sebum, and hair which gets infected with bacteria, resulting in swelling. The breakdown of the plug leads to the development of a pimple.

ii) Stress: Stress may worsen the already present acne.

iii) Hormonal Imbalance: Hormonal changes caused by puberty or pregnancy can be the cause of acne. Androgens are hormones that begin to rise in adolescence. In women, it gets converted into estrogen. Androgen causes the enlargement of sebaceous glands to make more sebum. Excessive sebum can cause the breakdown of the cellular walls in the pores, causing the growth of bacteria.

iv) Use of cosmetics: Use of greasy cosmetics, oily lotions and creams can increase the risk of acne.

v) Diet: A diet rich in refined sugars or carbohydrates, such as bread, bagels and chips may worsen the acne.

vi) Certain medications: Medications such as certain birth control pills or corticosteroids, testosterone or lithium may increase the risk of acne.