Causes of acne

Causes of acne

Many variables, many potential causes

The cause of pimples is unknown. The process by which a pimple develops is highly intricate. While we do know that a pore collapses on itself and blocks sebum (oil) from escaping,1-8 we do not fully understand why this process takes place in one sebaceous gland versus another.

Causes of adult acne and teen acne may include:

The real explanation may be a complex mix of many of these factors.5,7-18.

Since we do not know what causes pimples, our time is better spent finding a tested and effective acne treatment.

Helpful links:

References

1. Berger TG, James WD and Odom RB. Andrew's Diseases of the Skin. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 2000.

2. Fry L. The Encyclopedia of Visual Medicine Series: An Atlas of Dermatology. New York: The Parthenon Publishing Group, 1997.

3. Fulton Jr JE. Acne Rx. James E. Fulton Jr., M.D., PhD, 2001. 107-115.

4. Webster GF. "Acne Vulgaris: State of the Science." Archives of Dermatology 1999; 135(9); 1101-2.

5. Arican O, Kurutas EB and Sasmaz S. "Oxidative stress in patients with acne vulgaris." Mediators of Inflammation. 2005; 6; 380-384.

6. Bellew S, Thiboutot D and Del Rosso JQ. "Pathogenesis of acne vulgaris: What's new, what's interesting and what may be clinically relevant." Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2011; 10(6); 582-585.

7. Shaheen B and Gonzalez M. "A microbial aetiology of acne: What is the evidence?" British Journal of Dermatology. 2011; 165; 474-485.

8. Szabo K and Kemeny L. "Studying the genetic predisposing factors in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris." Human Immunology. 2011; 72; 766-773.

9. Baz K, et al. "Association between tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene promoter polymorphism at position -380 and acne in Turkish patients." Archives of Dermatological Research. 2008; 300(7): 371-376.

10. Ben-Amitai D and Laron Z. "Effect of insulin-like growth factor-1 deficiency or administration on the occurrence of acne." Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2011; 25: 950-954.

11. Bhambri S, Del Rosso JQ and Bhambri A. "Pathogenesis of acne vulgaris: Recent advances." Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2009; 8(7): 615-618.

12. Chen W, et al. "Testosterone synthesized in cultured human SZ95 sebocytes derives mainly from dehydroepiandrosterone.: Experimental Dermatology. 2010; 19(5): 470-472.

13. Eisinger M, et al. "A melanocortin receptor 1 and 5 antagonist inhibits sebaceous gland differentiation and the production of sebum-specific lipids." Journal of Dermatological Science. 2011; 63(1): 23-32.

14. Friedlander SF, et al. "Acne epidemiology and pathophysiology." Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. 2010; 29(2 Suppl. 1): 2-4.

15. Grange PA, et al. "Does inflammatory acne result from imbalance in the keratinocyte inate immune response?" Microbes and Infection. 2010; 12(14-15): 1085-1090.

16. Janiczek-Dolphin N, et al. "Can sebum reduction predict acne outcome?" British Journal of Dermatology. 2010; 163(4): 683-688.

17. Katsuta Y, et al. "Function of oleic acid on epidermal barrier and calcium influx into keratinocytes is associated with N-methyl D-aspartate-type glutamate receptors." British Journal of Dermatology. 2009; 160(1): 69-74.

18. Taylor M, Gonzalez M and Porter R. "Pathways to inflammation: Acne pathophysiology." European Journal of Dermatology. 2011; 21(3): 323-333.