Knowledge is one of the most favorite weapons in the war against acne; knowing the main causes of acne, makes it easier to decide how to combat it. During the teen years are when hormone levels increase along with androgen in both males and females. Over 85% of teens have to cope with this annoying problem.

The largest increases occur on the back and upper chest and unfortunately on the face. This happened because the sebaceous glands are now actively producing sebum. We actually need sebum, because this natural oil is found in hair follicles. If the excess oil is washed off using soap and water, or alcohol it doesn’t present a problem. But, still the excess oil may cause blackheads.

The problem worsens when the pores close and become clogged from excess sebum. This can cause whiteheads to form, and they can burst from increasing pressure. This transfers the bacteria to the outside of your face, for instance and it gets distributed. Next step, the bacteria can create pus and inflammation, which causes acne.

So, have you ever wondered how much stress can affect your acne? Let’s take a look, because stress seems to be a normal part of life, you can’t get rid of it. Fortunately, stress by itself doesn’t produce acne, but it can make it worse because the immune system gets pulled down, and then your body is not able to fight the bacteria that are causing your acne. But, it isn’t a major factor.

I have been asked how much effect do illegal drugs have on acne. This is really one factor that you shouldn’t have to consider. You need to stop using drugs. If you don’t, you are going to have a lot more problems than acne. But, I’ll give you the dermatologist opinion. The conclusion, anabolic steroids, barbiturates, and tetracycline can be a major contributor to acne.

Is genetics an area of concern in the acne arena? It may have an effect, but it hasn’t been proven by concrete drug studies yet. But, acne can be inherited. And, that’s partly due to life in the home.

This is a question I get pretty often. Do I have to watch what I eat? Will it make a difference? You may think that if you eat greasy food, your skin would be greasy. Actually, some foods that should be avoided like soft drinks, chocolate, and greasy cheeseburgers, will not have any impact on your skin. But, if you are eating a food that increases production of sebum (oil) or a certain type of hormone, it will have a large effect on your skin.

In conclusion, the two major culprits are hormones, and the sebum (oil) in the pores. And usually, during the teen years, the hormones are more active because your body is maturing, and that will cause more sebum (oil) to be secreted. That will mix with bacteria deep down in the pores, and the pores become blocked, which results in acne.