The blocked follicles cause inflammatory and non-inflammatory blemishes like pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads.
Acne vulgaris is the most common form of acne.
It is closely linked tochanges in hormones, diet, stress, and family genetics.
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An estimated 50 million people in the United States are thought to be affected.
It is common in teens but can occur at any age.
The condition can be broadly categorized by the following symptoms:
What Causes Acne?
Hormones
During puberty, male sex hormones calledandrogensincrease, triggering changes in the teenage body.
Among the changes, oil-producing glands calledsebaceous glandswill secrete large amounts of sebum.
These oils can capture dead skin cells on the surface of the skin and clog pores.
The more sebum that is produced, the greater the risk of acne.
But some adults continue to have acne in their 40s or 50s.
When this happens, the body produces a hormone calledcortisolthat can increase blood sugar and provoke whole-body inflammation.
Inflammation, in turn, increases the production of sebum.
Regularly eating highglycemic index (GI)foods is thought by some to promote acne.
These foods raise blood sugar, causing inflammation and the increased production of sebum.
These include skincare products like:
Does Dirty Skin Cause Acne?
Dirty skin does not cause acne but can contribute to breakouts by increasing the risk of bacterial exposure.
Some studies suggest that certain gene mutations passed from parents to children are linked to overactive sebaceous glands.
Medications
Many medications can affect hormones that influence the production of sebum.
Others cause acne when treatment is stopped and hormone levels are suddenly imbalanced.
Some are delivered topically (on the skin) while others are taken orally (by mouth).
It has not been shown to ease acne symptoms and can end up causing skin damage in some people.
Summary
Acne vulgaris is the most common form of acne.
Teens are frequently affected but people of any age can experience breakouts.
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