Acne is caused by an inflammation of the oil glands, called
sebaceous glands, which surround the fine hairs on the face.
When more sebum (oil) is produced by these glands, the openings
of the glands become smaller preventing the sebum from escaping.
This is the beginning phase of acne. There are many different
causes as to why this takes place within the skin - most all
causes can be dealt with appropriately to benefit the health and
appearance of the skin. Hormonal changes:

Because certain hormones control the oil glands in our skin,
acne is most common in teens when hormones are the most active.
During this time boys usually develop more severe acne. However,
acne often continues for girls as they mature (usually before
menstruation, during pregnancy and again through menopause).

Personal Hygiene:

Poor care of the skin can obviously cause acne. The skin needs
to be cleansed at least once a day for normal skin. Acne skin
should be gently cleansed twice daily - cleansing more than
needed can actually cause more flare-ups. Despite what many
believe - picking at pimples does NOT help them go away. It is
also extremely important that hands are washed often throughout
the day. Many people have a habit of touching their face and the
oil and dirt from the hands can most definitely cause breakouts.

Diet:

No certain food can cause acne - however an overall poor diet
will affect the skin negatively.

Cosmetics:

Oil-based makeup will clog pores causing more acne. Labels
should be studied for the terms “non-comedogenic” and
“hypoallergenic”, meaning that the pores of the skin will not be
clogged with the use of the product.

Drugs:

Acne can be a side effect of prescription anti-depressants and
antibiotics. Street drugs can also lead to acne. In fact, a
sudden, bad outbreak is often a clue to illegal drug use.

Stress:

Emotional stress may contribute to acne by stimulating the
adrenal glands which produce more acne-causing hormones and by
slowing down the healing process.

About the author:
Michele Bucci is a licensed esthetician and contributing editor
to Begin With the Skin.Com - a site created to ="http://beginwiththeskin.com">answer your questions about skin
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