Causes of Acne
There are few things that predispose one person to acne
Bacteria - a well known cause of acne is the bacterium Cutibacterium acnes. Most anti-acne products are made to fight this bacteria. However because acne has many factors, just dealing with this is not enough.
Excess sebum and skin cell shedding - over production of oils on the skin and increased dead skin cells (aka follicular hyperkeratinization) clogging the exit of the glands can start acne. These are commonly seen as whiteheads and blackheads.
Hormones - hormonal changes, as seen during adolescence or women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are known to cause or make acne worse through many factors, including sebum production and inflammation.
Inflammation - can be regarded as the main “problem” in acne. All these factors make a pimple which can become inflamed, red, and painful.
Genetics - having parents with a history of developing severe acne and acne scars increase your own risk for developing acne.
Friction - from items such as masks, helmets, and sports gear is a very common cause of acne. “Maskne” especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Can foods trigger acne?
Some foods that increase insulin and insulin growth factor (IGF-1) have been linked to acne, also dairy and dairy products like whey protein. Drugs like steroids are also known to cause acne.
There is no strong evidence that fatty foods can cause acne.
