Although acne is not fatal, this usually troublesome skin condition can lead to extremely unattractive scars on the skin. There are many causes of acne and there are also different types, the most common of which is the so called acne vulgaris. Acne is a common skin problem among adolescents, especially during puberty, but a lot of people still carry this problem into adulthood. Since acne can unfortunately bring with it embarrassment and humiliation, especially to teenagers, healing acne, as well as knowing the many causes of acne, is something that should be taken into serious consideration.
Causes of Acne
Acne formation usually occurs when the pores are clogged with excess oil or sebum along with dirt, causing bacterial reactions that lead to inflammation. Heredity is among the top causes of acne because some individuals tend to get acne on account of their genetic structures. These individuals often have extra productive sebaceous glands causing increased levels of oil piling up inside skin pores, usually beneath hair follicles. Some people shed skin a lot more than other people, so the accumulation of dead skin cells may be the primary factor for the blockage of pores.
The sensitivity of an individual's skin is among the major factors and causes of acne. Some types of skin, for example, are allergic to certain products, such as shampoos or lotions, that otherwise wouldn’t have any adverse effects on other skin types. During puberty and menstruation, changes in hormonal levels can result to acne formation.
In trying to single out the causes of acne, one should not forget to consider diet. Increased levels of oil on our skin may result from eating foods with high sugar and oil content. Lack of sleep due to stress and fatigue is major factor that contributes to acne breakouts.
Healing Acne
In cases where acne formation is caused by food intake, staying away from fatty food is definitely a good way of healing acne. Taking medication in the form of pills is usually done for healing acne that is caused by hormonal changes. Topical applications of certain anti-acne substances can also help greatly not only in healing acne but also in controlling and preventing acne onslaughts.
Also, key to healing acne is cleaning the skin, especially facial skin, by washing it with a gentle soap and water or with a water-based cleanser on a regular basis. This is to prevent dirt and sebum from building up on the skin, thereby eliminating potential clogging of the pores.
An individual suffering from acne should have good information on the causes of acne if one wants to find effective ways of healing acne.
