For the vast majority of folks, acne begins when going through puberty, however a number of acne sufferers can be adults too. Adults in their 40′s, 50′s and even older can suffer from acne however it’s not as common.
When you’re body starts producing lots of hormones (called androgens) your sebaceous glands can become enlarged and stimulated. Due to the extra sebum (oil) that is produced by your sebaceous glands it can become mixed up with bacteria and dead skin cells. This blocks the pores of your skin allowing bacteria to multiply. This is why pimples, pustules and spots appear.
As if the spots themselves weren’t bad enough, many people end up with scars left behind by the spot. These scars can actually become permanent if not dealt with swiftly enough.
It can be difficult to determine the exact cause of your acne because there are so many different factors to take into account, including:-
Genetics - There’s no getting away from it, if members of your family suffer, or have suffered, from acne then there’s a very good chance that you’ll suffer from it too.
Medications and steroids – although these can often be used as acne treatments, it can also potentially cause your acne to flare up.
Make-up - if you’re using a poor quality make-up then there’s a good chance they’ll block up your pores and cause spots to appear. Make sure any product you buy is suitable for acne sufferers.
Harsh skin cleansers – these can easily dry out your skin too much which means you body starts to produce even more oil. You’re then trapped into a viscous circle of using more and more of these harsh products to get rid of the oil which in turn causes your body to produce more oil.
Touching your spots - if you keep touching your spots this can cause bacteria to spread around your skin which causes your acne to become even worse.
Please note that spots aren’t caused because of poor hygiene and you can’t “catch” it from anyone else. Your diet won’t directly cause acne however it’s still important to ensure you’re drinking lots of water, exercising, eating fruit and veg plus getting a good night sleep. This will allow your body to tackle the acne on its own.
Generally speaking, most acne sufferers will grow out of it when they reach their twenties. Normally this is because your hormones are more balanced and your body is producing less oil. However it normal for anyone of any age to get a zit here and there. Particularly for women before menstruation.
Luckily there are some wonderful treatments available, some natural and some prescription, however if you look for advice from a doctor or skin specialist you will discover a treatment that works for you.
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