Common Causes Of Acne And How Best To Treat Them

Acne can have detrimental impacts on self-confidence and quality of life, whether your acne lesions are severe and ongoing, or more isolated patches of breakouts. And while acne is often classified as a ‘teen condition’ associated with adolescence, adult acne is more common than you might think. Regardless of whether it’s adult acne or teen acne you are trying to treat, problematic skin at any age can be very stubborn, difficult to treat, and unresponsive to many solutions you may have tried in the past. I understand just how frustrating this can be! Acne is unfortunately not a simple skin condition to resolve, and can be caused by any number of factors, internally or externally. So in order to effectively address and treat acne, it is key to first understand the reasons it may be occurring. Let’s discuss these, as well as some potential contributing factors that may be fighting against your efforts and creating an uphill battle for you.

Irregular sebaceous activity

One of the most common causes of teen acne is over-productive sebaceous glands. This means the glands are producing too much sebum - our body’s natural oils. This is crucial to soften, moisturise and lubricate tissue throughout the body, and maintain cell membranes, protein health, and barrier function. However, too much sebum can of course lead to problems. Alongside every hair follicle on the body is a sebaceous gland, and when too much sebum is produced, it can fill up the follicle and lead to a blockage. This is an ideal place for bacteria to accumulate, resulting in somewhat of a micro-infection, and ending up as a pimple, pustule, or papule. The best way to combat acne caused by over-productive sebaceous glands and excess oil is to utilise skincare ingredients that can simultaneously reduce bacteria buildup, clear blockages within the follicles, and assist in regulating the skin’s oil production.

Impaired barrier function

Our skin’s barrier can be thought of as the body’s external bricks and mortar, encompassing the epidermis (the most superficial layer of skin cells) the gluey substance that binds these cells together, the membranes of the cells, and our natural oils and bacteria that reside on the skin’s surface. If this barrier is compromised, it can lead to several negative outcomes. For example, too many unwanted microorganisms, from bacteria to fungal spores, infiltrating the cells and leading to infections. In this state, skin is also susceptible to Trans-Epidermal Water Loss (dehydration through the skin’s surface) and inflammation. All of this can lead to what appears to be acne, but is more of a sensitisation response, often with redness, pimples, bumpy texture and discomfort. This should be addressed with a gentle approach, forgoing active ingredients that would traditionally be used for problematic skin (such as salicylic acid) and opting for ingredients that nourish, strengthen, rebuild and repair barrier function, and reduce inflammation.

Hormonal imbalance

This can occur at any age, whether it be normal fluctuations throughout teenage years or later in life when caused by things such as stress, medications, menstrual cycles, or menopause. It can be the root cause of either impaired barrier function leading to sensitisation and breakouts, or over-productive oil glands leading to congestion and blockages. 

Nutritional imbalance or impaired gut health

Gut health can have an enormous influence over skin health. And while it may not be a simple case of what you eat causing your breakouts, if your gut health is compromised, your skin suffers too. For example, if you experience inflammation in the gut (or suffer inflammatory conditions like IBS, leaky gut, ulcerative colitis, etc) your intestinal tract walls will be more permeable, leading to insufficient nutrient absorption and increased water loss - which then impacts the health and function of your skin. The focus should therefore be reducing systemic inflammation, treating oxidative stress with antioxidants, and compensating with added essential vitamins, minerals, and calming hydrating substances.

This is why it is so crucial to consider a holistic approach to your skincare routine. By only addressing skin on the surface and ignoring internal factors such as medications, stress, nutrition, and gut health, you may be undoing all of the good work your topical serums, exfoliants, masks, moisturisers, and professional skin treatments provide. My area of specialty lies in creating highly tailored corrective skin plans that factor in internal and external influences that might be affecting your skin. My approach incorporates customised product and treatment recommendations, using Bare Roots and Organic Spa skincare products, plus internal support with nutrition and supplementation where necessary. By addressing the root causes instead of simply treating the symptoms, we can normalise your natural physiological functions and allow your skin to be the very best it can be.