What Causes Acne-Prone Skin?
When the pores of your skin become clogged, they form a bump or sometimes a cyst on the surface, this is what we call ‘Acne’.
The pores are attached to tiny glands found beneath the surface of the skin, known as Sebaceous Glands. These are meant to lubricate the hair and skin to prevent it from drying out by producing an oily substance called Sebum. The malfunctioning of the Sebaceous Glands and therefore the consequence imbalance in the production of sebum causes acne-prone skin. The excess sebum mixes with dead skin cells or dirt deposits and together they form a plug in the follicle which eventually results in an inflamed lump- the gnarly pimple.
From dietary imbalances to now even the masks we have on all day, there are various factors that may trigger or worsen acne-prone skin.
- Hormonal changes: Androgens are hormones that increase during puberty resulting in the enlargement of the Sebaceous Glands and increased sebum production. Hormonal changes during midlife, pregnancy or even through the menstrual cycle can often lead to breakouts.
- Medications: Certain drugs that contain corticosteroids, testosterone or lithium may also cause acne. This again circles back to hormonal imbalance; drugs like testosterone have an altering impact on the natural hormone levels of the body, thereby resulting in acne and breakouts.
- Diet: Yes reader, something as basic as food can result in heart-break(outs) and more often than not it can also be the best acne treatment. Studies indicate that certain ingredients can potentially cause acne-prone skin. Processed foods, increased intake of carbohydrates, fat and hydrogenated oils, spicy, pungent foods, meats, alcohol, and even coffee can amp up your acne. Sure, these are the best bits of your everyday diet but desperate times call for extremely desperate measures!
- Stress: Much like your thoughts, cortisol- the primary stress hormone goes into overdrive if you are stressing too much. As a result, an excessive amount of cortisol is released into the bloodstream which further triggers increased oil production by the Sebaceous Glands and we all know what that eventually leads to…
