WHY DO I GET IT | WHAT CAUSES ACNE?

Real Acne Causes

If you're a teen suffering from acne, you're certainly not being singled out. At least 90% of adolescents have acne - it affects teens of every size and shape, in every country from America to Zimbabwe.

So what's going on? What are the real acne causes? And why do YOU have it?

When you start puberty, the point at which acne typically develops, your body begins to produce hormones called androgens. Although they're commonly associated with males, androgens occur in both sexes. But boys produce more than girls, so that's why they tend to have more severe acne attacks. (Guys, want to know more? Here's a page just for you.)

Your face and body are covered with tiny hairs, each one fitting snugly into a hair follicle. You know these better as pores. Deep within each follicle are oil glands producing sebum, a technical term for oil. (Yuck.) Sebum travels up through the hair follicle onto the surface of your skin to protect your skin. When it's doing the right thing, it keeps your skin soft and flexible.

The problem is, androgens can supercharge your oil glands, causing them to go into overdrive. In essence, your body produces extra oil, which often mixes with the skin cells that die off and are replaced daily. This sticky mixture in your pores acts like a cork in a bottle, trapping oil and acne bacteria inside.

Your follicles become swollen since there's nowhere for the stuff inside to go. Then your body's natural defense system attacks. White blood cells rush to the area to deal with the bacteria. The result? Red, painful bumps. Zits. Pimples. Blackheads. Whiteheads. Acne, in all its glorious forms.

You've probably heard, at some point, that chocolate causes acne. Not true - at least as far as we know today. The relationship between food and acne is uncertain. While greasy food and chocolate - contrary to popular belief - don't seem to have any connection to acne, refined sugars and simple carbohydrates may.  Recent studies have linked diets high in refined sugars and starches to increased oil production; however, this is a little different than the myth that tells us if we eat greasy pizza or chocolate today, you will break out tomorrow. What's key here is consistency - a diet of constant sugar and starch is not going to be good for your skin - or anything else for that matter.  But an occasional slice or dessert isn't likely to cause acne.   Research also tells us diets rich in fresh fruits, vegetables and lean proteins, which have a low glycemic index, may help the body function more efficiently and lead to clearer skin. However, more research is needed on this topic. And while the link between food and acne is unclear, it certainly never hurts to add whole grains, fresh produce and plenty of water to your diet. Healthy, acne-free skin may start from the inside, not the outside.

Proactiv

Proactiv, the world's #1 acne system, uses Combination Therapy® to directly target the root causes of acne - bacteria, oil production, and dead skin cell build up - to heal and soothe acne-prone skin. Developed by leading dermatologists, Drs. Katie Rodan and Kathy Fields, Proactiv clears existing blemishes, treats inflammation and redness, and prevents new breakouts before they start.

Get the smooth, clear, healthy-looking skin you deserve with Proactiv.