What Causes Acne?

Breakouts suck. Most people will experience some form of acne in their lifetime either in their teens or as adults, so what actually causes it and why do we get it? Or, more importantly - how can we actually prevent it?

Genetics is a major determining factor when it comes to breakouts, but there are also personal habits which could be making them worse. For example, remembering to cleanse your face both morning and night and removing your makeup before bed is essential. By neglecting these tasks you're setting yourself up for an excessive build-up of dirt and bacteria resulting in acne. 

Acne is mostly caused by hormones and the overproduction of oil. When hair follicles become clogged with oil, this leads to the growth of bacteria known as P. acnes. Did you know blue light actually kills P. acnes in the skin? Light therapy is suitable for anyone who battles with regular breakouts.

A major contributor is blocked pores. Pores become blocked by a build-up of oil, bacteria, dead skin cells, and dirt which can then turn into blackheads and pimples. These lovely little bumps can wreak havoc on your self-esteem and, if severe enough, may also lead to permanent scarring. Thankfully, our microneedling pens can help with the appearance of acne scarring if you do have any.  

Cleaning your pores of this build-up is essential for decreasing acne. A pore vacuum ensures your pores are deeply cleaned and any dead skin cells are removed from the surface of your skin.  

What are the symptoms of acne?

Acne comes in the form of small to large bumps (cystic acne), sometimes red or white or can even appear as a rash. Blackheads look like tiny little black dots, commonly on the nose, chin and cheeks.

You can also have acne on the body, such as on the neck, chest, shoulders and back.

Some types of acne can be sore to touch while others you won’t be able to feel too much.

What actually causes acne?

Acne occurs when the pores of your skin become blocked with oil, dead skin, and bacteria.

Each pore of your skin is the opening to a follicle. The follicle is made up of a hair and a sebaceous (oil) gland. The oil gland releases sebum (oil), which travels up the hair, out of the pore, and onto your skin. The sebum keeps your skin lubricated and soft.

Unfortunately, one of the problems in this process is the cause of acne.

Acne can occur when:

• Too much oil is produced by your follicles
• Dead skin cells accumulate in your pores
• Bacteria builds up in your pores

These problems can then lead to the cause of pimples.

How to prevent and treat acne:

• Cleanse your face morning and evening RELIGIOUSLY. Remember you may need to double cleanse sometimes. Foaming cleansers are great for oily skin types
• Remove all traces of makeup before going to bed
• Moisturise morning and night after cleansing. If you’re prone to breakouts opt for an oil free moisturiser
• Unclog your pores with a device such as the DermaShine Microdermabrasion Blackhead Remover once every 1-2 weeks
• Don’t squish your pimples as this can spread the bacteria and create more! It can also lead to permanent scarring
• Use an LED Mask multiple times a week targeted at killing P. acnes such as the blue light in our DermaShine LED Mask
• If you have acne scarring from previous breakouts, microneedling with a Dr Pen device can greatly reduce the appearance of these scars. You can also combine this with the red healing light in our LED mask