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Acne

Acne is something that affects both adults and teens at any time in their life. There are many different causes of acne that can affect the severity and the duration with which a person has an outbreak of acne. One of the main causes of acne is the hormones in the body. During puberty the body will start to produce large amounts of hormones that are called “androgens”. It is this hormone that causes the glands to become larger and this causes mild to severe outbreaks of acne as bacteria is trapped within the glands. The hormones in the body also change during pregnancy and during menstruation and some women experience more acne symptoms during these times. Stress is another big factor as a major cause of acne. When the body is under stress hormones, including cortisol, are produced in larger numbers which then in turn further irritates acne. Still other causes of acne include (1) genetic factors, (2) makeup, (3) steroids, (4) medications, and (5) over cleaning of the skin.

There are some things that can be done to treat acne, depending on the cause and the severity. One of the most important things is keeping your face clean. This means not touching your face with your hands since hands are a huge source of dirt and bacteria. It’s advised that you don’t attempt to pop any acne pimples or black heads since this can cause the bacteria to spread and can also increase the risk of infection. It takes time for acne outbreaks to heal so it’s vital that you keep your face clean by cleansing it gently. Try to eliminate as much stress from your life as you can if you’re prone to acne that is recurring and severe. Eat well, get plenty of rest, and get plenty of exercise. The important thing to remember is that most people outgrow severe acne symptoms as they age so take care of your skin during an acne outbreak by being as patient and as gentle as possible.