What Causes Pimples?

Stress

An academic study published by Stanford University reported that pimples in a group students worsen during the stressful examination period. Stress causes the body to increase in the production of steroids called cortisols. Cortisols make the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum (oily substance) which worsen pimples.
In another study, stress causes the hypothalamus, a part of the brain, to release a hormone called corticotropin which also increases sebum production in the sebaceous glands.

Under stress, people will usually forget their usual routine of apply anti acne creams and medication. This will lead to making their pimple condition worse.
Stress management is suggested to keep acne under control. Indulge yourself in stress reducing activities like sports and hobbies to have a better quality of life. You can even try meditation which helps to keep your mind in peace. Reduce stress = less sebum in your sebaceous glands = less pimple problem.

Sun exposure

Sun exposure have a drying effect of the skin and causes harm to the sebaceous glands, that is why some people might feel their pimple conditions getting better after some sun tanning. However for others, it has the reverse effect, making their acne worse. Excessive sun tanning can lead to various types of skin diseases including skin cancer. It also increases the aging process of your skin. It is not worth to try this method of treatment.

Ultraviolet rays also slow down the collagen formation process of the skin. Acne scars will take a longer time to heal and might result in the scars being permanent.

Heredity

It might be in your genes. Your genetic make up might affect how serious your acne condition is. If your family members like your parents have severe cases of pimple, you will be more likely to suffer from acne problem. Acne is hereditary. Your gene will affect various factors which lead to acne. The amount of sebum (oily substance) is produced in your sebaceous glands, the sizes of your sebaceous glands, reaction of your sebaceous glands to hormones changes, speed of fighting against acne producing bacteria of your immune system and other factors are all decided by your genetic make up. It does not mean that if your parents have histories of acne, you are destined to have it. It only means you have a higher chance of getting it.

Makeup / cosmetics

Acne cosmetica is a type of acne as a result from the usage of makeup. It is caused by the comedogenic substances in the cosmetics. Comedogenic substances are whiteheads and blackheads producing substances. Some of the ingredients in cosmetics which are comedogenic include lanolin, algae extract, cocoa butter, lauric acid, coconut oil, laureth-4, octyl palmitate and D&C pigments.

Reputable cosmetic companies normally subjected their products to vigorous testing for acne and labeled their product as non-comedogenic if their products do not cause acne. Check for “non-comedogenic” or “non-acnegenic” labels on your makeup. Acne cosmetica became a rare type of acne due to this testing phase of most companies.

Rashes sometimes look like pimples. Some people develop rashes due to allergic effect of some substances in the makeup and self diagnose it mistakenly as acne. Putting on a comedogenic makeup is a vicious cycle. The more you want to hide your pimple scars the more of the comedogenic makeup you put on, making the acne worse. The rule of thumb, if you find that a type of makeup is making your face condition worse, change that makeup and see a doctor quickly.

Medication

Some medications are known aggravators of pimple, taking them will cause your acne condition to be worse. Usually the reaction of these drugs on acne will stop once you stop the medication.

Corticosteriods are synthetic version of the natural steroid cortisol. They are usually taken orally or through injection. They will cause inflammatory pimple lesions such as papules or pustules which appeared normally on the chest, shoulders and back. They do not usually cause blackheads and whiteheads type of acne.

Anabolic-androgenic steroids such as performance-enhancing drugs can result in pimples outbreak. Testosterone, a type of hormone which is frequently abused by sportsmen is one type of this steroid. Acne caused by anabolic-androgenic steroids mainly appears on the back, chest and shoulders in male, while appearing more on the faces in female.

Androstenedione is a hormone that testosterone or estrogen is created from. Abuse of this hormone is also frequent by sportsmen. Studies had found androstenedione has almost the same side effect as anabolic-androgenic steroids.

Danazol, which is given to women for the growth of tissue from the uterus in parts of the body other than the uterus, has similar aggravating effect on pimples.

Lithium which is used to treat manic depressive illness is another drug that causes pimples.

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