Acne Cause

ACNE or zits / pimples, are caused by blocked, infected, oil glands on your face.

"Acne! I'll never make it to the ball!"

This happens most during teenage years when androgens - hormones that stimulate oil making - are highest. Some oil gland exits get choked shut by this thick goo and bacteria which normally would be squirted out to the face surface stay and eat it - creating a closed comedome or whitehead - and this bacterial digestion produces chemicals which are irritating to your skin and an inflammatory reaction is born which is red and eventually bursts producing a pustule. Other times, the gland opening stays open but the oil is so thick that it doesn't flow out. Oxygen in the air then changes its color to black - like an apple bite left in the open air - this is called an open comedome or blackhead.

The above picture is a microscopic view of acne formation in skin where: 1 = affected skin, 2 = hair shaft, 3 = oil gland, 4 = bacteria, 5 = oil on surface skin

The following are some common myths about acne:

• Acne gets worse if you eat greasy or sweet foods - not true.
• Acne is because your face is dirty - not true. Washing your face more often only removes surface grease and not the deep oils which cause acne.
• Acne is because you have a "hormonal imbalance" - this is true only in a very very small minority. Most people with acne have normal hormone levels for their age.

Picture of acne:

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