Major Thought On Causes Of Acne. Need Your Opinions!

fighting a losing battle*

I'm 100% sure it's genetics. For example some people have fast metabolisms and never gain weight, some people aren't as fortunate and end up gaining weight easily. Some peoples skin can prevent pimples while others breakout every day There's still no explanation about this but we all know it's genetic, it's how we are. Sucks doesn't it?

I do the same thing with my roommate haha. I'm glad I'm not the only one! If I need to go get a snack after I've washed my face, I goop on a bunch of a green face mask and walk in like nothing's going on.
I'm still not sure about the food thing because so many people swear by it, but I've been eating the same diet for years and just started breaking out. I mean maybe there's some truth to food aggravating your skin, but I don't think there's any way that it's the only cause or that if you just stopped eating something that you'd suddenly have perfect skin. I think a large part of it is definitely hormonal, so guys probably have more trouble since they don't have all of the options that females do, like birth control and Spiro. I think face washing has got to help too, but it's definitely more of an internal thing when it comes to anything more than minor blackheads or whiteheads. Have you been to a dermatologist or anything? Mine isn't all that talkative, but it still feels nice to know that someone actually knows about what's going on with your skin. Have you considered antibiotics at all? They can have side effects and whatnot, but many people are just fine on them, so it might be worth a shot?

thankyou for your opinions! and i too think its genetics and my hormones must be sky high! And i have been on doxycycline for around 3 months now and my cheeks have improved however my forehead is sooooooooooo bad!! it honestly looks like a pizza topping im deadly serious. It seems doxy will work for maybe a few more months then will stop working. I dont want to live on pills all my life but at this rate, i might have to

Have you tried minocycline at all? I took doxy and mino because one didn't clear up my skin, so my derm switched me to the other...don't remember which order though. Maybe upping the dose would help? After the antibiotics, my skin was clear for a while, so maybe you'll only have to take them for a little bit every few years if your acne returns. I know of a few people who were permanently cleared up after taking the antibiotics, so that could end up being you, hopefully!

Your post made me lol! I couldn't agree more.

I think genetics and hormones are a big cause too! But I think its different for each person...some people who are dairy intolerant for example, eating dairy is probably causing their acne. But that doesnt mean that every acne sufferer should stop eating dairy and will have clear skin lol. For me, Im pretty sure its genetics as loads of people in my family have bad skin. Someone needs to invent a magic pill that clears everyones skin no matter what the cause...I agree that scientists should spend more time investigating, it effects so many people world wide.

In my opinion I don't think acne and junk food have a relationship. I had nicer skin when I was fat and only ate crap. I lost 3 stone, exercised and ate a balanced diet and my skin was worse than ever. Teenage acne runs in both sides of my family, but no adults have acne. My acne was getting worse after passing the peak hormonal stage for girls (15-16) but then again, maybe people develop at different rates. Recently I've been to see a rheumatologist, who seems to believe there may be a connection between me having a connective tissue disorder (autoimmune problem) and recent skin problems, which seems to suggest that my doctor believes acne may be a symptom of a faulty immune system. My mam has an autoimmune disease and I've noticed whenever she has a flare-up she develops rash made up of tiny spots that looks like miniature acne. So I agree with you there Liam, I think it's something in your body that causes it, and that the problem can be genetic and therefore inherited.

There is a possibility that they already know what causes acne and what could get rid of it, but it just fails to be published. New research/ideas go through a peer-review process, whereby said information is presented to a board of psychologists/doctors etc before being considered for worldwide publication. It appears like a formal, fair procedure, but it's believed a lot of plausible research and products are knocked back because the new information/product could contradict info/products that members of the board reviewing have created. Basically, if a person linked with the creation of Proactiv has a huge load of research in front of them that states acne can't be cured with creams containing what's in their stuff, they're likely to vote 'no' for publication as it would threaten their work/reputation. Peer reviews/product publication is thought to be influenced by money too (backhanders), the world is just unfair...

I had acne for four years and the only thing that cured me was Roaccutane; antibiotics did nothing but thin my hair out, cause stomach problems and has most likely left me with bacterial resistance (which will cause loads of problems with future illness as it will be harder to treat infections). Although people often go on about how dangerous Roaccutane is (which it can be, there are side-effects), you have to think that if it looks like your acne isn't going to go away any time soon, antibiotics long-term presents a far greater risk of developing unwanted side-effects without as much of a guarantee that it will eradicate the acne, whereas accutane presents a 80-90% success rate of permanent removal.

Sorry, longer post than I expected it would end up being, but hey, your post interested me

Thankyou for all your comments It just annoys me that i will need to go on all these pills or accutane to get rid of this disease. Why do i have to get it!? And my cheeks and chin etc have no acne however have a lot of post acne marks which just make it seem like i have acne. But my forehead, wow, it's just a mess. If i could get rid of the forehead acne i would be rid of it!! But that doesnt seem to budge!! And my doctor said its due to me having a fringe, however ive had a fringe near enough all my life and long hair however my forehead has never been this bad, so why now? Acne doesn't make sense, why you get it. I have lost so much weight cutting out foods that i thought was giving me acne however i still get it so what can i do!

That's exactly how I feel, it was like my catchphrase while taking accutane, 'why do i have to destroy my body with drugs and not my friends? it's so unfair!'. You see people around you eating junk food, drinking all the time, sleeping in their makeup and generally just not really looking after themselves, and then a doctor will say to you something like 'your fringe is causing your forehead acne', it doesn't make sense! Have you heard of Retin-A? It's a topical form of accutane so isn't as severe as long as you don't go on sunbeds/in strong light whilst using it. I still use it now whenever I get a spot and it just disappears before it has a chance to change into that painful cyst-state, it's amazing how it works!

I agree that acne is one of the worst things to have. I know to many that probably sounds horrible, but what I mean is that it's one of the worst non life-threatening diseases to get! That last time someone outside of my immediate family saw me without makeup on was many, many years ago, except for a couple months ago when a friend ambushed me to see my skin (some "friend"). Even though I'm on Accutane my skin is still horrible, and it probably always will be. I hate the scars and large pores left behind by over five years of acne! Even when it's gone it still curses your skin. I was reading a thread on the nutrition and hollistic board about how acnegenic skin has more androgen and estrogen receptors, which is why our skin is more sensitive to hormones and their fluctuations. I also read that we have several deficiencies topically that makes our skin break-out. Not sure if it's true, but if it is it's probably from getting crappy genes. God, life is so unfair sometimes! I just wish there was a simpler and easier way to get rid of this!