What is acne?
In most cases, acne is a hereditary disorder of the pores. Normal pores shed about one layer of dead skin cells per day inside the pore. The acne-prone pore sheds up to five layers of dead skin cells per day and the body simply can’t keep up with this level of exfoliation. Pores become clogged with dead skin cells, oil or sebum and create congestion under the skin creating the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. If bacteria are present, these clogged pores lead to inflammation, redness, and the formation of a microcomedone or pimple.

Not all acne lesions are the same. Acne has many faces, but there are two main types. Not inflamed and inflamed. Non-inflamed acne is either a blackhead or a whitehead. Inflamed acne occurs when a blackhead or whitehead erupts and irritates the follicle, leading to redness, inflammation, pustules, and/or pustules.

What causes acne?
There are many myths about the causes of acne. The truth is, we really don’t know what causes acne or excessive production of shedding skin cells. But we can identify acne “triggers” and other factors that can contribute to acne development, including hormones, stress, medications, exercise, and cosmetics.

Myths Debunked – The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

Do hormones cause breakouts?
This is not a myth, but it requires a little clarification. It’s actually not your hormones in general that cause breakouts, it’s the “imbalance” of hormones that can lead to lower estrogen levels and causes increased oil production. Some other factors that can contribute to the development of acne include stress, medications, exercise, and cosmetics.

Acne is caused by dirty skin.
This is absolutely not true. Acne starts deep in the pore and is caused by excessive shedding of dead skin cells. This has nothing to do with dirt or oil on the surface of the skin. You can wash your face multiple times a day (which I don’t recommend) and it won’t stop acne from forming. Acne is a skin disorder. When your body can’t get rid of excess skin cells, they get trapped inside your pores and cause problems. That’s why it’s extremely important to use the right combination of products to penetrate pores, increase exfoliation, and stop acne where it starts.

Eating too much chocolate, drinking soda, or eating potato chips causes acne.
While all of these are “acne triggers,” they are not the root cause of acne. In fact, it is not the food itself, but what is in the food. For example, it’s not the French fries that aggravate acne, it’s the “salt” in the fries. A diet high in iodides (salt) can make acne worse. Once iodine enters the bloodstream, the excess is excreted through our sebaceous glands. This irritates the pores causing inflammation and breakouts. Foods high in sugar, such as chocolate and soft drinks, are also known to cause inflammation within the pore. In general, taking care of your body with a healthy and nutritious diet will always result in better looking skin.

You will overcome acne naturally
Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. Unfortunately, there is no way to determine who will get over acne and who won’t. The culprit here again, is the hormones. Hormones continue to ebb and flow throughout life, just like acne breakouts. The good news is that regardless of age, acne can be controlled with the right home care products and professional acne treatments.