All acne sufferers know the physical signs of an acne breakout.
Plus we also know it is not age specific, in fact you may be surprised to know that just as many older adults are susceptible to the symptoms of acne as teenagers.
But behind the physical signs of pimples there are a number of other factors at play that lead to these dreaded ugly spots appearing.
The 3 acne triggers listed below sometimes work independently to cause acne but are quite often inter-related which can form a powerful acne inducing effect on our skin.
1. Hormones
While hormones are responsible for maintaining such things as your muscles and libido, they are also responsible for oil production; therefore any increase in hormonal levels will increase the probability of acne outbreaks.
This is due to the fact that the excess oils clog up your skins pores where bacteria begin to grow.
As teenagers enter puberty these hormones go into high gear which can make treatment at this stage particularly difficult.
Adult women can also be greatly affected by hormonal acne with many women reporting increases in acne in the week before their period is due.
2. Stress
Stress can strike at anytime and can have a snowballing effect on acne sufferers who become trapped in a vicious cycle. In fact, many commentators believe today's population is living with greatly increased levels of stress and there is a definite connection between acne and stress which cannot be overlooked. However, the basic fact remains that stress increases oil secretion which can in turn lead to an increase in acne outbreaks.
Stress and its effects on acne is 2 fold.
Firstly, stress will cause the adrenal glands to be stimulated excessively and release more hormones into the body.
Secondly, it slows down and delays the healing process causing acne to persist for longer than normal.
Thankfully, stress can be treated and managed when you know how.
3. Diet
It is absolutely true that diet plays a hugely important role in the occurrence of acne outbreaks.
However, it has never been proven that things such as chocolate and candy will lead to an increase in acne.
Foods that are high in saturated fats such as meat, poultry and dairy products can lead to an increase in oily skin and should be eaten in moderation.
A balanced diet with lots of fruit and vegetable servings is the best way to ensure you body is getting all the vitamins and nutrients it needs to function properly.
There are also many specific foods that can help prevent acne and improve your skins condition.
These are just 3 of the main causes of acne but there are many more. Thankfully, there is lots of information around to day to help sufferers fight and control the causes of acne.