Adult Acne Causes
The exact cause of adult acne is still a mystery, but researchers believe it results from several factors including hormonal imbalances, genetics, vitamin deficiencies, food allergies, diet, stress, and more.
What is known about adult acne is that it is a disease that affects the skin's oil glands.
The small holes in your skin are called pores.
These pores are connected to oil glands underneath the skin by a canal called a follicle.
These glands make an oily substance called sebum.
Inside the follicles, sebum is secreted with the purpose of carrying dead skin cells to the surface of the skin.
When sebum becomes trapped beneath the skin's surface, a closed comedone develops.
This type is commonly referred to as a "whitehead.
" When the sebum is exposed to air, it darkens into an open comedone and is referred to as a "blackhead.
" When comedones become infected with bacteria, swelling, redness and pus develop.
This form is commonly referred to as a pimple or "zit.
" These sac-like lesions contain liquid consisting of dead cells, bacteria and white blood cells.
Sometimes these lesions turn into nodules, which extend into the deeper layers of the skin.
Oftentimes, hormonal changes are responsible for the overproduction of oil.
Acne outbreaks frequently occur in females a few days prior to menstruation.
Hormonal changes related to pregnancy, or when starting or stopping birth control pills, can cause an adult acne [http://www.
the-acne-treatment.
org] outbreak.
In some individuals, severe or prolonged stress can cause acne to worsen.
Acne is not caused by a bacterial infection, but bacteria are responsible for making acne worse.
When oil is trapped in the hair follicles, the normal skin bacteria, P.
acnes, will grow and multiply in the blocked pore.
The P.
acnes bacterium produces chemicals which alter the composition of the sebum.
These chemicals make the sebum more irritating to the skin and causes inflammation.
Inflammation of the skin occurs because the body's immune system is acting to rid itself of a foreign substance.
In the case of acne, this substance is either bacteria or the irritating compounds they have produced.
Other factors that can cause acne include: Cosmetics: Whiteheads, blackheads and pimples can actually be caused by cosmetics.
This includes the application of foundation make-up, night creams, and moisturizers composed of vegetable oils or oleic acid.
Environmental: People who live in areas with high humidity or high levels of air pollutants have a higher risk of developing adult acne.
Genetics: Adult acne [http://www.
the-acne-treatment.
org] tends to run in families.
If your parents had acne, you will be more likely to also have issues with acne.
Adult acne occurs in all races; however, Caucasians tend to be more affected than African Americans, Hispanics, or those of Asian descent.
Medications: Certain medications, including lithium and barbiturates, can cause your skin to secrete more oil than it normally does and can lead to an outbreak of adult acne.
What is known about adult acne is that it is a disease that affects the skin's oil glands.
The small holes in your skin are called pores.
These pores are connected to oil glands underneath the skin by a canal called a follicle.
These glands make an oily substance called sebum.
Inside the follicles, sebum is secreted with the purpose of carrying dead skin cells to the surface of the skin.
When sebum becomes trapped beneath the skin's surface, a closed comedone develops.
This type is commonly referred to as a "whitehead.
" When the sebum is exposed to air, it darkens into an open comedone and is referred to as a "blackhead.
" When comedones become infected with bacteria, swelling, redness and pus develop.
This form is commonly referred to as a pimple or "zit.
" These sac-like lesions contain liquid consisting of dead cells, bacteria and white blood cells.
Sometimes these lesions turn into nodules, which extend into the deeper layers of the skin.
Oftentimes, hormonal changes are responsible for the overproduction of oil.
Acne outbreaks frequently occur in females a few days prior to menstruation.
Hormonal changes related to pregnancy, or when starting or stopping birth control pills, can cause an adult acne [http://www.
the-acne-treatment.
org] outbreak.
In some individuals, severe or prolonged stress can cause acne to worsen.
Acne is not caused by a bacterial infection, but bacteria are responsible for making acne worse.
When oil is trapped in the hair follicles, the normal skin bacteria, P.
acnes, will grow and multiply in the blocked pore.
The P.
acnes bacterium produces chemicals which alter the composition of the sebum.
These chemicals make the sebum more irritating to the skin and causes inflammation.
Inflammation of the skin occurs because the body's immune system is acting to rid itself of a foreign substance.
In the case of acne, this substance is either bacteria or the irritating compounds they have produced.
Other factors that can cause acne include: Cosmetics: Whiteheads, blackheads and pimples can actually be caused by cosmetics.
This includes the application of foundation make-up, night creams, and moisturizers composed of vegetable oils or oleic acid.
Environmental: People who live in areas with high humidity or high levels of air pollutants have a higher risk of developing adult acne.
Genetics: Adult acne [http://www.
the-acne-treatment.
org] tends to run in families.
If your parents had acne, you will be more likely to also have issues with acne.
Adult acne occurs in all races; however, Caucasians tend to be more affected than African Americans, Hispanics, or those of Asian descent.
Medications: Certain medications, including lithium and barbiturates, can cause your skin to secrete more oil than it normally does and can lead to an outbreak of adult acne.
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