Acne is a condition that affects millions of people every year. Most who have it, have it for a relatively long time. Usually a sufferer of pimples and zits must endure them for several years, at varying degrees. While acne can develop on a person at any age, it is most common during two periods. One is, for women, around menopause. At this point, their hormone balance is changing and acne often results. The most common stage of life for acne to appear is during the teenage years, in both men and women, soon after puberty.

Technically speaking, acne is just one part of a larger issue affecting the skin. More specifically, acne is the disturbance’s visible part. The overall condition that gets treated by pimple creams and other medications is actually deeper down. The condition is actually inflammatory, bacterial and hormonal disturbances. Most of the action actually takes place at the level occupied by what is known as the oil pore. The oil, in this case, is within the sebaceous glands. A sticky buildup is formed inside the walls of hair follicles, and the buildup eventually blocks the pores. This process causes the appearance of whiteheads and blackheads.

Much has been done to research cures for the condition as a whole. The problem is that there is still no known root cause of acne. As it stands, science can only point to more general causes. What actually leads to acne directly is still unknown.

One cause of acne might be related to genetics. What about someone’s genetics causes the acne, though, isn’t actually well understood. In a way, it can be said that the way someone’s body produces and responds to hormones is the genetically inherited trait, and the actual cause of acne is left as a mystery.

It has been established that acne springs directly from the increase in male sex hormones-which both genders develop. As this is most common throughout puberty, the condition is mostly seen during that time. Stress, genetics and some forms of food have been linked to acne in various ways. For the most part, these things are actually being linked to the production of hormones, and not specifically to acne.

There are some things that are known to directly lead to acne. Dead skin cells are one of the big ones. People who accumulate dead skin cells in a certain area will inevitably experience blocked pores as a result. Once that happens, they are far more likely to experience acne. Of course, they will still need to be, in most cases, at an age where the hormonal activity is still consistent with that of acne sufferers.

Lots of research is being done into all of these causes. Scientists are examining each very closely, as well as looking into other leads. Eventually, this should lead to the discovery of an actual direct cause of acne, and that will hopefully result in a more effective and practical cure than exist today.

Acne affects so many people these days, not just the stereotypical teenager. The good news is that there are many ways to treat and manage the problem and get acne relief, from home remedies for acne to prescription medications.

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