You’ve probably heard a lot of different theories about the cause of acne. Well, it’s complicated. There are three direct causes, and a myriad of indirect causes that all interact to cause acne.

First Cause of Acne: Too Much Oil!

Sometimes, especially in the case of teenagers, the body’s skin cells imply start producing too much oil. They’re supposed to produce oil, called sebum, in order to help the skin and hair with growth and keep it smooth. In puberty, the sebaceous glands which make this oil sometimes go into overdrive and just make too much. This excess of sebum clogs the skin’s pores, and then lets bacteria grow as well.

Oil can also come from outside the body. Not washing off makeup at night is a common cause of acne among teenage girls. Using a skin cream that’s not right for your skin type may leave your skin too oily, as well. It can be tricky to find the right products to help prevent this cause of acne, but it pays off in the end.

Second Cause of Acne: Dead Skin!

It is quite normal for your skin to shed dead skin cells, as the skin renews itself all the time, growing new cells and throwing out the old. However, sometimes your skin has trouble getting rid of the old cells. The sebum is supposed to be able to exit the pores and follicles, but if dead cells are in the way, it’s like a cellular traffic jam! The dead skin cells and oil stick together and turn into a blackhead or whitehead pimple. You can help remove dead skin cells by washing twice a day and using an exfoliating cream.

Third Cause of Acne: Bacteria!

Bacteria mostly become a cause of acne when the pores are already clogged. There’s a particular type of bacteria, called “Propionibacterium acnes,” that is present on the skin a lot of the time but only becomes an active cause of acne when it’s trapped in the clogged pore. This is usually the cause of the swollen, red, painful type of acne. Again, preventing clogged pores in the first place is a good step toward preventing this cause of acne from having a chance.

Indirect Causes of Acne

There are other factors that are not, in themselves, actually a cause of acne, but which can make acne worse or make it difficult to get rid of. Stress is one of them; when you’re feeling stressed, your immunity is lower (which is why you often get sick during or after important life events) and your glands tend to produce more hormones and oils. Eating fried foods and chocolates, despite what your mother may have told you, is also not directly a cause of acne. However, eating too many high-fat foods can not only increase the oils in your body, but also are not generally good for your health, which makes it more difficult for your body to fight acne. The occasional chocolate bar or hamburger is not going to cause you to break out, however.

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