Understanding Acne and Its Causes
Acne is by no means a serious condition, in and of itself, but it is one that has been known to cause serious problems. Though merely a superficial blemish, it has been linked to depression, even severe depression and, according to some studies, suicide, due to the mental anguish it’s been known to cause. The key problem is that it typically affects both males and females in their adolescence, which is a time when physical appearance and self esteem are both put to the test. Because of this, it’s been looked upon more and more as a serious issue.
Technically speaking, acne is just one part of a larger issue affecting the skin. More specifically, acne is the disturbance’s visible part. The overall condition that gets treated by pimple creams and other medications is actually deeper down. The condition is actually inflammatory, bacterial and hormonal disturbances. Most of the action actually takes place at the level occupied by what is known as the oil pore. The oil, in this case, is within the sebaceous glands. A sticky buildup is formed inside the walls of hair follicles, and the buildup eventually blocks the pores. This process causes the appearance of whiteheads and blackheads.
Much has been done to research cures for the condition as a whole. The problem is that there is still no known root cause of acne. As it stands, science can only point to more general causes. What actually leads to acne directly is still unknown.
Genetics has been considered as one of the possible causes of acne. No matter what missing links are left in the causal chain, it’s still clear that someone with certain acne traits will produce children with similar traits. If you, for instance, developed acne early or had acne problems later in life than most other people, your children, should you have any, will likely experience acne in that same way.
Hormones have been identified as another cause of acne. It’s known that the development of certain sex hormones, as produced in both genders at the dawn of adolescence, is linked to the formation of pimples. These hormones, though, are not a direct cause. Instead they are merely linked to a cause. There is some unknown reaction that hormones set into play that results in pores clogging and pimples forming.
There are some things that are known to directly lead to acne. Dead skin cells are one of the big ones. People who accumulate dead skin cells in a certain area will inevitably experience blocked pores as a result. Once that happens, they are far more likely to experience acne. Of course, they will still need to be, in most cases, at an age where the hormonal activity is still consistent with that of acne sufferers.
Lots of research is being done into all of these causes. Scientists are examining each very closely, as well as looking into other leads. Eventually, this should lead to the discovery of an actual direct cause of acne, and that will hopefully result in a more effective and practical cure than exist today.
When it comes to acne, you don’t have to suffer. Finding acne relief is possible for the majority of people, and there are many treatment options available, whether you’re looking to clear up the occasional pimple or if you need cystic acne relief.
