Questions and Answers About Acne: Causes

article syndicated from NIAMS
updated about 1 year ago

What Causes Acne?

The exact cause of acne is unknown, but doctors believe it results from several related factors. One important factor is an increase in hormones called androgens (male sex hormones). These increase in both boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy or starting or stopping birth control pills can also cause acne.

Another factor is heredity or genetics. Researchers believe that the tendency to develop acne can be inherited from parents. For example, studies have shown that many school-age boys with acne have a family history of the disorder. Certain drugs, including androgens and lithium, are known to cause acne. Greasy cosmetics may alter the cells of the follicles and make them stick together, producing a plug.

Factors That Can Make Acne Worse

Factors that can cause an acne flare include:

Changing hormone levels in adolescent girls and adult women 2 to 7 days before their menstrual period starts
Friction caused by leaning on or rubbing the skin
Pressure from bike helmets, backpacks, or tight collars
Environmental irritants, such as pollution and high humidity
Squeezing or picking at blemishes
Hard scrubbing of the skin

Myths About the Causes of Acne

There are many myths about what causes acne. Chocolate and greasy foods are often blamed, but foods seem to have little effect on the development and course of acne in most people. Another common myth is that dirty skin causes acne; however, blackheads and other acne lesions are not caused by dirt. Finally, stress does not cause acne.

Who Gets Acne?

People of all races and ages get acne. It is most common in adolescents and young adults. Nearly 85 percent of people between the ages of 12 and 24 develop the disorder. For most people, acne tends to go away by the time they reach their thirties; however, some people in their forties and fifties continue to have this skin problem.

Acknowledgments:

The NIAMS gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Robert Katz, M.D., Rockville, MD; Larry Miller, M.D., Chevy Chase, MD; Alan Moshell, M.D., NIAMS, NIH; Gary Peck, M.D., Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC; and Maria Turner, M.D., National Cancer Institute, NIH, in the preparation and review of this booklet.

article syndicated from National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
NIH Publication No. 01-4998 - Publication Date: October 2001