With school right around the corner let’s tackle a subject near and dear to many of my teenage clients; the dreaded acne! Though acne is most prevalent in teenagers it can effect anyone. Adult acne is very common and frequently caused by hormonal changes. Let’s first look at some of the causes of acne.

• Excess oil production
• Hair follicles clogged by oil and dead skin cells
• Bacteria
• Excess activity of a type of hormone (androgens)
• Ingrown Hairs
• Dead Skin Cell Buildup

These triggers can be worse if you are experiencing these factors as well:

• Hormones. The increase of the hormone sebum which is very active during puberty and other hormonal changes such as pregnancy
• Medications. Some examples are medications containing corticosteroids, testosterone or lithium.
• Diet. There have been studies showing that diet does in fact impact acne! Certain foods like highly processed dairy like skim milk, carbohydrate rich foods such as bread, chips, desserts and unfortunately ladies, chocolate, the old wives tale is true.
• Stress. Though stress can impact your body in many ways it definitely worsens acne symptoms.

So what is acne? Acne or breaking out is when pores become clogged causing blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules or cysts. Each type of acne can impact your skin differently and needs to be treated differently. The best reason to hire a professional to help with your next breakout is because acne can cause scaring and permanent damage if you pick, pop and scratch it!

Most people inherit the function of their pores. So, unfortunately your skin is genetic. When someone is prone to acne, their pores clog with dead skin cells much faster than they are supposed to. Healthy pores shed about one layer of dead skin cells per day inside the pore, but acne-prone pores shed up to five layers of dead skin cells per day. The body just can’t keep up with keeping the pore clear. As the dead skin cells begin to accumulate inside the pore, the cells become sticky and get stuck inside the pore and form a plug. This plug then needs to be extracted and treated. They can be painful and unpleasing to the eye. No one likes to go to their first day of school with a whitehead in the middle of their forehead!

Though acne Is inherited don’t lose hope! Your breakouts can be manageable with professional help and the right skincare regime. Book your next acne treatment to start your journey to clear skin and acne relief!