It is not that we do not know the exact causes of acne. We have almost all the necessary information about it but there are a few minor differences here and there. We know for sure that the main reason behind acne is the over production of sebum. Our oil glands, called sebaceous glands, produce the oil sebum, which works to lubricate our skin and hair and also keep it supple. The main cause of acne is the excess production of sebum. Actually, this sebum mixes with dead skin cells and clogs the hair follicles which block the sebum from coming out of the pores.

Bacteria finds this area as the perfect place to breed, and as a result, the skin becomes red and we say that a pimple has appeared on the skin. We can say without a doubt that one of the main causes of acne is the excess production of sebum. So, what causes this excess production of sebum? It has been derived through experimentation that the production of sebum is related to the production of the male hormone testosterone. This testosterone is the main trigger for the secondary sexual characteristics in human beings and the secretion of sebum is just one of the effects of this hormone.

The abnormal secretion of sebum makes your skin, especially your face, become oilier. For the most part, the human body is able to better regulate its response to testerone by the age of twenty, so in most cases, acne tends to go away after your teenage years.

There are some who believe that the causes of acne are partly hereditary, but there is no certain scientific data to suggest the exact causes of acne. Why some people are more susceptible to acne and others are not is something that is currently being researched. However, some of the factors that seem to aggravate the problem of acne and are believed to be main causes of acne include: diet, skin irritation, stress, hormonal activities (such as menstrual cycle) and certain medicines.

Statistics show that anabolic steroids used in bodybuilding is one of the main reasons for acne related to medications. In addition to that, halogens, barbiturates, lithium and androgens also prove to be causes of acne. When it comes to diet, data show that most of the skim milk products seem to be produce acne. You have also probably heard that chocolates and fast food are also causes of acne, but opinions differ on this subject. Some experts believe these are legitimate causes, while others claim that there is no statistical data to substantiate this claim.

Many scientists now believe that perhaps the narrowing of the hair follicle might be the main cause behind acne. How would that happen? Well, it might occur because of excessive shedding of cells within the follicle, abnormal cell binding, or even excess water retention resulting in swelling of the skin. There are a variety of opinions on the causes of acne, but there are a few factors that seem to be the main culprits.