What Causes Acne

There has been extensive research into this disease and dermatologists blame four main factors in the skin.

Firstly, the body seems to become extremely sensitive to the male hormones (the androgens) in the body.
Men and women have male hormones, but because men have higher levels, this is why they are often more affected.
Secondly these male hormones do not have to be in high doses to get the oil producing glands (sebaceous glands) over worked, which in turn makes them pump out more oil.
Thirdly in those affected by acne, the dead skin cells that sit near the top surface of the skin start to slow down their rate of shedding and clog up the pores where the oil normally escapes from.
The combination of these two will result in the skin forming a tiny blockage, the starting point for all types of acne.
Lastly this blockage is a wonderful environment for the acne bacteria that normally lives on the skin, to start to multiply, which in turn, leads to a chain reaction leading to infection and inflammation. This is what is commonly known as the spot. But, if the blockage doesn’t become infected, then it will remain as a solid plug – or the blackhead, as we know it.