Understand Acne Causes So You Can Find a Solution

There has never been one single cause found for acne

The exact acne causes are still unclear.

Acne Causes are Multifactorial

Acne causes are from many different sources. The exact cause of acne has never been pinpointed, and it is believed that several interrelated factors can cause acne. Perhaps it is because we often are unable to determine the root cause of acne in individuals that the statistics of this skin disease is so shocking.

The cause of adult acne and causes of cystic acne are particulary difficult to determine.

17 million people in America alone have acne.

If you are between 12 and 25, you are among the 85% of people who have acne.
25% of men and 50% of women get acne during their adult lives.

The following are some of the external and internal factors that have been linked to acne in some way.

External Contributors to Acne

Makeup and skin care products

Comedogenic skin care products can cause irritation or make you break out. These include any products that clog oil ducts. Look for non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic products, but be aware these products can still make you break out.


Depending on where you work, it is possible that your work environment can cause acne. Such environments include manufacturing or construction facilities where you may come in contact with chemicals or polluting agents that cling to the skin.

Too much sun

Research shows that exposure to sun rays may also be one of many acne causes. This may even cause acne a few months after exposure. However, you can read about how the sun and vitamin D can actually benefit you at the Total Natural Acne Treatment site. Climate

Humidity can cause moisture in follicle cells to swell up. On the flip side, dry air can create thick sebum inside follicle cells. Both extremes can ultimately cause acne.

Picking and squeezing pimples

Touching your face or using your fingers to pick or squeeze pimples is one of the simpler acne causes that are more from habit. Picking pushes bacteria deeper into the skin cells or spread the bacteria already beneath the surface of the skin.

Washing your face too often

Too much washing can stimulate oil glands.


Sweat trapped in by your clothing creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Friction caused by leaning on or rubbing the skin or the pressure of bike helmets, backpacks, or tight collars can contribute to or worsen acne.

Internal Contributors to Acne


Bacteria that typically live on the skin are a contributor to acne. The bacteria known as Propionibacterium acnes are responsible for causing acne. These bacteria create enzymes that dissolve the oil in the skin, and irritate the skin causing inflammation.

Sebum production

Generally, there is a relationship between the amount of sebum produced and the severity of acne. The largest sebaceous glands are located on the face, neck, chest, upper back and upper arms.

Sebaceous glands usually develop during the teenage years in response to hormonal changes. For reasons that are unknown, cells in the follicle start clumping together and don’t allow sebum to flow through and carry dead cells with it to the surface of the skin like before. Cellular buildup then occurs and allows acne bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes or P. acnes) to grow in the trapped follicles with no way out.

The P. acnes then cause inflammation and redness. The plugged follicle keeps growing until it can’t hold its contents anymore, and bursts or leaks. As a result lesions or other pimples can develop.

Follicle growth

Sometimes follicle walls will grow abnormally and this can cause acne. As well, increased growth of cells can interfere with the follicles and form a plug. This plug gets bigger until it bursts and spreads bacteria on the surface of the skin.

Hair follicles exist all over the skin except for the bottom of your hands and feet. Inside each follicle, a hair will protrude upwards and out of a pore. Near the surface, the oil gland enters the hair follicle and expels sebum into the follicle and out to moisturize the skin.


Many acne causes come from hormonal change or imbalance. There are hormonal changes during stress, menstruation, pregnancy, stopping/starting birth control pills, menopause, and hormonal disorders.


Androgens are produced by the adrenal glands is one of the internal acne causes that stimulate oil glands and oil production. Increased androgen levels leads to more acne.

The androgen, testosterone, can enlarge sebaceous glands and trigger the sebaceous glands to overproduce sebum. Another source of increased production of androgens comes from such conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Read about acne cysts from acne cyst ovarian problems. The hormone estrogen, in women, can actually help to improve acne. Since monthly menstrual cycles change as a result of changes in estrogen levels, women can experience breakouts during their periods. This is why hormone pills with estrogen can be a prescription acne treatment for women.


Although stress doesn't directly cause acne, it will aggravate it. This is because stress leads to increased androgen levels, which then affect your sebaceous glands.


Dermatologists still aren’t 100% sure if what we eat affects acne. There exists an ongoing debate among experts about the role of food.

However, individuals can certainly have different levels of food sensitivities (acne causing foods) that will trigger hormones and contribute to acne.

Prescription drugs and steroids

Certain drugs, including lithium, barbiturates, and steroids such as for muscle building (androgens) are known to cause acne.


If your parents had acne, or one of them, there’s a chance you will inherit their complexion. It is now believed that acne can run in the family, but the specific genetic factor has not been discovered.

As you can see, there are many acne causes that can be both independent or interrelated. It is almost impossible to separate out interlinking activities that contribute to acne. Being aware of these acne causes can help you minimize breakouts.

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