Causes of acne

A normal follicle looks like this:

For reasons no one completely understands, follicles sometimes get blocked. Sebum (oil) which normally drains to the surface gets blocked and bacteria begins to grow. Both whiteheads and blackheads start out as a "microcomedone". The picture below is a "microcomedone".

The result of a microcomedone can be one of two scenarios. A blackhead or a whitehead:

When the trapped sebum and bacteria stay below the skin surface, a whitehead is formed.

A blackhead occurs when the trapped sebum and bacteria reaches the surface of the skin and opens up.

What causes acne? One of the most important things you can learn about acne is this: It's not your fault. Contrary to popular belief, acne is not caused by anything you're doing — what you eat, how often you wash your face or work out — but by a combination of factors at work far beneath the surface of your skin.

For the majority of acne sufferers, the trouble begins at puberty, when the body begins to produce hormones called androgens. These hormones cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge, which is a natural part of the body's development. In acne sufferers, however, the sebaceous glands are overstimulated by androgens, sometimes well into adulthood. Androgens are also responsible for acne flare-ups associated with the menstrual cycle and, on occasion, pregnancy.

Copyright © by Jason Ding