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by: NathanJames
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Unfortunately the exact cause of acne is unknown, but many doctors believe it results from several related factors. One of the most important factors being the rise in a person's hormone levels. Often these hormones known as androgens (male sex hormones) will increase in both boys and girls during the pubescent stage of their lives and can cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and produce more sebum.

A cause of acne is heredity or genetics as researchers believe that there is a tendency to develop acne as it can be inherited from your parents. In fact studies have shown that many school-age boys who are suffering from acne have a family history of the disorder.

Acne is caused by the sebaceous glands becoming over active and they then secrete oily substances on to the skin and those people with acne are especially sensitive to normal blood levels of the hormone called testosterone and this triggers the sebaceous glands to then produce an excess of sebum (oily substance).

While the oil increases, the dead skin cells that line the hair follicle openings are not shed, which in turns clogs the follicles. With the combination of excess oil and clogged follicles, blackheads and whiteheads form. For many people though, they experience acne only during puberty.

But for other people the build up of oil in their hair follicles will create the ideal environment for a bacterium called Propionibacterium Acnes to grow and this normally lives harmlessly on your skin but when the environment is right for them it will grow.

The bacteria feeds off the sebum and will produce substances that cause your body's immune system to respond and this in turn inflames the skin and creates the redness that we associated with spots.

With worse inflammatory acne, cysts will develop under the skin's surface. These will then rupture and spread infection into nearby skin tissue. This can often result in one's skin scarring.

This article has provided some information as you the cause of acne. Other articles we've written include the types of acne explained, as well as acne treatments that are available.

About the Author

If you're not into prescription treatments, or you're looking for more natural alternatives, learn about some simple home remedies for clear skin on the Acne Squad website. Visit http://www.acnesquad.com for more useful information.

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