Many people in Houston struggle with acne. Acne can present in many forms as whiteheads, blackheads, skin lumps and nodules, pustules, cystic lesions, and pimples. Acne can affect people of any age, but it is more common among teenagers. The most typical areas where acne occurs are the face, chest, upper back, and shoulders. Acne can cause psychosocial complications.

Some people have lost their confidence in their appearance when having acne. Low self-esteem makes someone isolate themselves and avoid situations where there are other people. There are many treatment modalities for acne that are available. If you are struggling with acne, you can seek treatment from a skin specialist. The specialist at the Houston Skin Shop MedSpa will examine you and come up with a treatment plan that works for you. This article explains the various causes of acne.

1.     Excess Sebum

One of the risk factors for acne is the production of excess oil in the skin. The excess sebum clogs the hair follicles in the skin. Bacteria can invade these hair follicles, causing inflammation and the appearance of various forms of acne on the skin. The areas prone to acne-like the face, upper chest, and back have a lot of sebum. For this reason, it is essential to be cautious about the products that one uses on their skin because some products can further clog the pores worsening the acne.

2.     Hormonal Changes

You can also develop acne due to hormonal changes in your body. Androgens are the hormones that are primarily responsible for the development of acne. The level of androgens in the body increases during puberty in both boys and girls. Androgens then trigger acne because they stimulate the growth of sebaceous glands that produce sebum. The larger glands produce excess sebum that clogs the hair follicles. Women can also develop acne due to the changes that occur during pregnancy and midlife.

3.     Medications

Another cause of acne is the medications that you are using. Using hormonal drugs like testosterone and hormonal birth control can also predispose you to acne. Corticosteroids can also trigger acne because they cause the oil-producing glands to enlarge. Some antipsychotic medications like lithium can also trigger the development of acne. The products that you are using on your skin can also put you at risk of developing acne. It is therefore essential to ensure that the products you are using on your skin are non-comedogenic.

4.     Genetic Predisposition

Another factor that determines whether you are at risk of developing acne is your genetic composition. If your parents or siblings tend to get acne, your chances of getting acne also increase. However, this does not mean that you must get acne if your family members also have acne because the acne could be due to other factors like medications and products.

5.     Friction

You can also develop acne if your skin is under some form of pressure and friction from physical objects. Such objects include helmets, phones, and other items that contact the skin, like collars. These items might also introduce bacteria to your skin.

In summary, acne is a skin condition that many people struggle with during their lifetime. There are different causes of acne that include producing excess oil in the skin that clogs hair follicles. Bacteria in the skin can cause inflammation that results in acne. Medications, hormonal changes, friction, and genetics are other causes of acne. If you are struggling with acne, you can seek treatment from a skincare specialist.