4 reasons why you get acne

Understanding the cause could help you deal better with acne.

Acne can make people conscious of their appearance. It also causes low self-esteem and anxiety. 

It usually affects people who fall in the age group of 12 to 25 years of age, but sometimes older people also get acne.

There are various factors that make your skin prone to acne. 

Acne occurs when overactive sebaceous glands (that produce oil in the skin) produce excess oil and the dead skin cells clog the pores of the hair follicle present in the skin. 

Inflammation occurs in the clogged hair follicles resulting in acne.

Here are the various reasons why you get acne. 

1. Diet

Following a balanced diet is a key factor in keeping your skin healthy.

Food usually doesn't cause acne directly but can cause other problems such as greasy skin that is linked with acne.

2. Stress

It is another major cause that makes your skin prone to acne.

When your body is stressed, it produces excessive testosterone (a sex hormone) resulting in excessive oil production.

Stress also impairs the immune system of the body, making it vulnerable to acne. 

3. Cosmetics

Some cosmetics (usually oil based) tend to clog the pores of the skin which may result in acne.

Using harsh cleansing agents can dry and irritate the skin.

Gently washing your skin is recommended to avoid breakouts. 

4. Hormones

Changes in hormonal balance can cause acne especially in the beginning of puberty.

In some cases, women are affected by acne when the menstrual cycle stops.

The acne caused by hormonal changes may also be genetic in nature.

The author Dr Shivashankar B Sajjanshetty is a dermatologist. 

 Courtesy

Lead photograph: Saluda Programa de Salud/CReative Commons