WHAT IS ACNE

Type of Acne and What Causes Acne

Hormones increase during puberty, pregnancy, use of birth control pills and hormone treatment duing menopause (increase in sex hormones cause the oil glands to make more sebum and thus hair follicles plug up more often)
- Heridity (if your parents had acne, you might get too) This is probably related to over-active sebaceous glands.
- Some types of medicine (sex hormones,lithium)
- Greasy makeup and greasy hair products increase clog formation

The outermost layer of the skin consists of dead cells. These are shed regularly (a process called exfoliation) and are replaced constantly by cells from the bottom. In the process of shedding, some of the dead cells fall into the hair follicles (pores) from which hair protrudes. Attached to hair follicles inside the skin are glands which secrete oil (sebum) into the hair follicle. Sebum lubricates the hair to make it supple and soft. In individuals with acne-prone skin, there is excess sebum production; hence they usually have oily skin especially on the forehead, cheeks and chin.

The causes that are connected with acne are redness,localized shine,blackheads,uneven skin surface and dilated pores and pimples are caused by irregualrities deep in the epidermis as a result of irregular sebum production. Some say stress has an effect on the skin and can cause the apppearance of acne. Other culprits are fatigue and menstrual cycle for women.

There are many types of acne or pimple. The most basic type of acne is called a comedo, and is simply an enlarged and plugged hair follicle. The most common type of pimples are whiteheads,blackheads,papules,pustules, nodules,cysts.

Misuderstandings on What Causes Acne

Acne is contagious - While many skin diseases are highly contagious, acne isn't one of them. But if acne is left untreated and a nasty secondary infectiion develops, that could probably be transmitted to another person who has open but not yet infected lesions.
Poor hygiene causes acne - Acne is not caused by dirt but by dead skin cells mixing with an excess of oily, sticky sebum, which then blocks the pores, excessive washing should be avoided as it makes more dry skin cells available to combine with sebum. don't use harsh soaps or abrasive cleaners or cosmetic scrubs;they can strip the surface of the skin and can damage skin with acne. Wash your face with plain water and a mild liquid cleanser skin care product.
Chocolate and greasy or heaty foods cause acne - there is nothing in chocolate or in fatty oily, heaty foods that has any direct effect on acne. Yet they have been blamed for causing pimples. If eatan in moderation and complemented with an otherwise healthy diet, they will neither cause nor worsen acne.
Stress cause acne breakouts - Stress may cause hormonal changes and may contribute to aggravate acne lesions, although thre is no scientific evidence on this.
Alcohol, if applied on acne, dries the acne up - It will, on occasion, reduces the secondary infection from an open wound. But it will only dry out your skin, generate more dry skin cells, and create more clogged pores that lead to more acne if you apply it to your skin's surface. That is why alcohol-based toners should not be used if you have acne.

What Causes Acne To Worsen

Some of the things that can cause an acne flare are changing hormone levels in teenage girls and adult woman 2 to 7 days before their menstrual period starts; pregnancy, leaning on or rubbing the skin, squeezing, pressing, picking the pimples, hard scrubbing of the skin which will further damage already inflammed skin.

Skin Care Tips. Learn about some plants that help in skin care and may reduce acne symptoms.