What Causes Acne?
The exact reason one person can struggle with severe acne, while another has clear skin is not completely understood. However, acne is assumed to have a genetic component. Anyone who experiences acne is described as having “acne prone” skin. Many factors contribute to blemish formation or breakouts, so it is imperative that our acne specialists are well-versed in all these factors so they can provide the acne treatment that is best suited to your individual skin needs. Let’s take a look at the five factors that play a role in acne: Excess oil production, hormones, bacteria, inflammation, and environmental factors.
Acne begins with excess oil production. The sebaceous glands in the skin are connected to pores or follicles and their purpose is to produce an oily substance called sebum. Sebum has several purposes including lubricating and protecting the skin as well as helping to remove dead skin cells from the pore. This is part of the natural process our skin undergoes every day as new cells are produced, and old ones are shed. When there is an overproduction of sebum, it can mix with an overabundance of dead skin cells and clog the hair follicles. It is thought that acne prone skin sheds up to 5x more dead skin cells each day than non-acne prone skin. This is more than the skin can keep up with and leads to the formation of comedones (blackheads or whiteheads).
Hormonal fluctuations, especially during puberty, menstrual cycles, pregnancy, menopause, or with hormonal disorders like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), can trigger acne. Fluctuations in estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone lead to an increase in the production of sebum and can also cause skin cells to shed more rapidly, leading to an increase in clogged pores.
Bacterial growth in the clogged pores creates additional problems, and results in a type of acne called inflamed acne. Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is a type of bacteria that naturally resides on the skin. If these bacteria get trapped in a clogged pore they begin to multiply. This leads to localized infection and inflammation within the follicle and eventually can lead to larger lesions and discomfort.
Inflammation from the P. acnes infection brings a systemic immune response like any infection. When bacteria multiply, the immune system responds by releasing white blood cells to fight the infection which causes additional inflammation. This inflammation can lead to additional redness, swelling, and the formation of painful, pus-filled papules and pustules.
Environmental factors can worsen acne, contribute to clogged pores, and trigger breakouts. These include exposure to pollutants, irritants, common household chemicals, fragrances, lotions, and creams, just to name a few. They are not the cause of acne, but they can make acne prone skin more susceptible to flare ups. Minimizing or eliminating environmental factors can reduce the severity of flare ups, however this doesn’t get rid of the acne as it isn’t treating the root cause.
Successful acne treatments in our Thornton spa is a multi-faceted approach and our acne experts have extensive knowledge and experience in providing acne treatments. At Amplify Aesthetics, we offer an individual approach to your acne treatment program in Thornton that results in a very high probability (>95%) of achieving clear skin. In our next blog we will discuss topical treatments and how they work.