Risk Factors of Acne

Acne is a skin condition which affects about 17 to 45 million people all over the world. It can occur on the face, neck, back, chin, forehead etc and can be found in the young children, teenagers and adults.

Acne is caused due to the high sebum production and blocks the hair follicles which lead to the formation of bacteria and result into acne.

There are various risk factors which can increase the chances of acne and they are:-

Family History of acne

According to the dermatologist, sometimes pattern, severity, type and duration of acne which the person experience depend on the experiences of the parents. So, it is very difficult for the dermatologist to determine the type of acne which the person will develop. Sometimes acne is linked to the heredity but it has not been proved till now that genetic factor is the cause of acne.

Hormone Levels

During puberty, the body produces hormone called androgens. These hormones enlarge the sebaceous glands and as a result these glands are overstimulated by androgens. The changes in the levels of hormone increase the chances of acne. The changes of hormones are most common in:-

• Teenage boys and girls
• Women who are pregnant
• Person taking specific medications which contains lithium, iodine, cortisone, oral contraceptives etc
• Girls and women before the menstrual period

There are some other risk factors of acne and they are:-

Environment

Environment is also one of the risk factor of developing acne. The people living in the humid areas are more often get severe type of acne which clogs the pores and produces more sebum and as a result acne is caused on the surface of the skin.

Cosmetics

Sometimes acne is caused by various cosmetic products which contain some harmful ingredients which can make the acne worse. The ingredients contain oleic acid, lauryl alcohol, petroleum, vegetable oils, butyl stearate etc. These ingredients are found in foundations, moisturizers and pomades.

Pressure from wearing headbands and chinstraps

Sometimes wearing helmets and sporting equipments can be the cause of acne though they may be worn for safety reasons. As a result, oil is collected on the helmets, headbands and chinstraps and leads to acne. Therefore, these items should be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed after wearing them.

Petroleum oils

People working in fast food restaurants and those who are exposed to motor oil regularly can have more risk of having acne. This is caused because the oil or grease which are produced in the air cause skin diseases like acne and make the skin irritated.