What Causes Acne?

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Acne is something that we all get and can sometimes make us feel a bit embarrassed. As a matter of fact, we try to cover it up or pop it, to get rid of it as soon as possible. As someone who has acne-prone skin, I’ve come to terms with the fact that my face is not always going to be pimple free.

Also, for many years I used to correlate acne with puberty. The truth is that other factors like stress, lack of sleep, etc. can lead to acne. Keeping this in mind let’s go ahead and dive into what causes acne, how to avoid acne, and the best tips to practice to avoid acne.

This post is all about what causes acne.

TOPICS

1. What causes acne?
2. Common causes for acne
3. How to treat acne?
4. What to avoid for acne 
5. Best acne tips
6. Takeaways

What Causes Acne? 

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), acne occurs when sebaceous glands produce too much Sebum (oil). Sebum carries dead skin cells, through the follicles to the surface of the skin (MediLexicon International). Leading to pores getting clogged with bacteria and causing infected red bumps on the skin known as acne or as we like to call it pimples.

Common causes for acne 

• Diet 
• Stress
• Hormones
• Lack of sleep
• Weather
• Genetics
• Oil-based products 
• Constantly touching your face

How to Treat Acne?

Treating acne is going to depend on the severity of your acne. If you get the occasional pimple or have moderate acne you can treat it by using over-the-counter products like gels, soaps, and lotions. Here are some of the ingredients to look for, along with 2 products I personally use & highly recommend if you have acne-prone skin.

• Salicylic acid: helps reduce inflammation 
• Azelaic acid: helps prevent the buildup of keratin (protein) on your skin
• Benzoyl peroxide: kills bacteria 
• Retinol: removes dirt and dead skin cells
• Sulfur: helps remove excess oil 

The first product I want to share with you is Clean & Clear foaming facial cleanser. It’s great to use if you have sensitive skin and on a daily basis. I used this twice a day (morning & night). My favorite thing about it is that it removes any dirt from the face without stripping or over-drying the skin. Leaving your skin feeling clean and refreshed every single use. 

The second product I want to share with you is Thayer’s exfoliator. If you have acne-prone skin an exfoliator is a must-have! An exfoliator is not only going to help prevent acne but also improve the appearance of your skin. This one, in particular, is great to use because it’s going to help cleanse and moisturize your skin. 

Now if you have severe acne, over-the-counter products might not be the best way to treat it as they might not be strong enough to help cure it. If you are someone who has severe acne it’s best to see a dermatologist so they can help you determine what is causing your acne and how you can treat it. 

What to Avoid for Acne & Best Acne Tips

As we all know acne is inevitable and as much as we wish we didn’t get it, we do. However, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything we can do to help avoid getting them as often. With that being said here are 7 tips/recommendations you can do to help your acne process whether at the beginning, middle, or last stages of it. 

• Avoid touching your face: First and foremost, you want to avoid touching your face! I know it sounds like the simplest thing but sometimes we get antsy and start picking at it. You want to let the pimple ride its course, which typically lasts about 4 to 7 days. Doing so is going to help the affected area heal faster and prevent scarring.
• Avoid using oil-based products 
• Wash your face in the morning & at night. Washing your face constantly is going to help make sure your face stays clean and free from excess dirt.
• Exfoliate once a week. As mentioned above if you have acne-prone skin, an exfoliator is going to be your best friend! It helps remove excess dirt and cleanse your skin. 
• Choose products with ingredients that are suitable for oily or acne-prone skin
• Make sure to wash your makeup brushes/ sponges often
• If you already have a pimple and it’s the first day, you want to use a pimple patch. Pimple patches are great to use because not only do they act as a barrier to keep you from picking or popping it but they also help absorb any liquid from the pimple. 

TAKEAWAYS

1. Remember to test patch products before applying them all over the face
2. Practice some of these recommendations to avoid acne
3. If you have severe acne check in with a dermatologist to help you determine what is causing your acne and how you can treat it.

This post was all about what causes acne.

Sources

Acne: Who gets and causes. American Academy of Dermatology. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2022, from https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/causes/acne-causes