Acne is a bothersome skin condition that can show up on any person of any age. It’s important to know what’s going on with your skin, so you should know the basics of the condition.

How it Develops

Before we get in to what does cause acne, let’s take a look at what doesn’t. There are several myths regarding the causes of breakouts.

• Food: While food can affect your hormones and therefore cause acne, it doesn’t have a direct impact.
• Sweat: Sweating does not cause breakouts. However, excessive washing can cause acne to appear.
• Getting more sun: Being exposed to more sun will NOT help! In fact, it can make it worse.

What are the actual causes of acne?

When genetics, puberty, or other irregular hormones cause your oil glands to overproduce, acne tends to appear. Usually, oil glands help to protect your skin. However, when the oil production takes place at an excessive rate, the oils clog your pores and cause breakouts.

Irritated skin may also cause blemishes. A lot of scrubbing, picking, dryness, or sun exposure can cause your skin to get irritated and break out.

What types of acne are there?

There are two main categories that acne fits into: non-inflammatory and inflammatory.

Non-inflammatory

Non-inflammatory acne includes whiteheads and blackheads. They are the least painful and do not cause swelling. Overall, they are not very severe.

Inflammatory

Inflammatory acne includes more painful forms of blemishes. This type is more likely to cause scarring, dark spots, or pitting.

• Papules: These are firm, red bumps underneath the skin. They may develop from an irritated white or blackhead.
• Pustules: Pustules are the typical blemish most people think about when they think of acne. They are more tender bumps with pus in the center due to a buildup of bacteria.
• Nodules: These are a slightly more severe form of acne. They lie underneath the skin and are often hard and painful. When tissues beneath the skin are damaged by clogged pores, nodules arise.
• Cysts: Cysts are filled with pus and originate from deep within the skin. They are the most severe form of acne and highly painful.

The Effects

Acne can be the cause of various physical and psychological issues.

Often, acne is known to cause more stress due to the physical appearance and discomfort. In severe cases, it may lead to depression.

If not treated, these blemishes may turn into permanent scars, pits, or dark spots. Because people try to get rid of the blemishes as soon as they arise, they may end up with:

• More severe forms of acne
• Scarring
• Dark Spots
• Pitting

If you are struggling with this skin condition, Montrose Dermatology + Cosmetics can help! We offer treatments for a wide variety of skin and acne types. Visit our website to learn more!