Acne - Causes

Causes Hormones

Androgens are hormones which promote male characteristics such as facial hair growth and deepening of the voice. At puberty there is an increase of these hormones in both men and women causing an enlargement of the sebaceous glands in the skin. The increased sebum production from these glands at puberty also contributes to the clogging of the hair follicles. Acne can be a hereditary condition in some people. People of all ages can get Acne. Some adult women experience mild to moderate Acne due to hormonal changes associated with pregnancy, their menstrual cycles, or starting or stopping the contraceptive pill Acne can also occur in some women who have a condition that affects the ovaries called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). . Acne is mainly a hormonal or hereditary condition, however there are some drugs which have the unfortunate side effect of causing Acne. STEROIDS This type of medication is often prescribed for conditions such as arthritis and chronic inflammatory diseases. It is not usually a severe type of Acne, however, using steroids is associated with many other serious health risks e.g., liver damage, fragile bones and high blood pressure. The spots tend to be numerous, small and not very inflamed. Body builders who take steroids may also be prone to this type of Acne. FAMILY HISTORY Acne can run in some families. This may be due to genetic factors which are still being investigated.