What acne symptoms really mean

Symptoms and causes are two different things. Acne is a symptom and it does not occur without cause. A symptom is a signal from the body indicating that there is an underlying problem; it’s an expression of the body’s attempt to heal.

The real underlying cause or causes of acne can lie much deeper within the body, and the symptoms should not be suppressed (hidden) using drug treatments which in the short term may control the acne symptoms, but usually making it worse in the longer term. At least, that’s what natural logic would indicate.

But today’s acne medications are focused on suppressing and hiding away acne symptoms rather than getting to the root of the acne causes. The worrying fact about this approach is that disrupting even one cell function can have a negative effect on the entire body. A single prescription drug can disrupt multiple cell functions causing thousands of biochemical changes.

Topical causes

1. Overactive oil glands caused by hormonal imbalances and the effects of stress on acne

Oil glands also know as sebaceous glands are located deep in the skin and are responsible for keeping hair follicles and skin well lubricated. The rate at which oil glands produce the oil depends on a male hormone called androgen. Females also have these hormones but in fewer quantities than males do. During times of increased stress or hormonal disturbances (such as puberty) the amount of androgens circulating around the body are elevated and this becomes a cause of acne

2. Blocked pores from poor acne skin care

Once the oil glands are producing oil at a faster rate than they should, the oil can cause pores to become blocked because the oil can’t reach the skins surface fast enough. Dead skin cells which are always falling off the skin then get mixed up with the excessive amount of oil causing pores to become completely blocked.

3. Harmless bacteria becoming harmful

Did you know that a bacterium called P. acnes is always present on the skins surface? It serves useful functions such as keeping other harmful bacteria away and keeping the skin soft. If you’ve ever thought that bacteria on your skin is an acne cause you’re mistaken and this is also the reason why use of anti-bacterial cleansers is not recommended. Bacteria only becomes a problem when pores are blocked. They love the warm moist environment inside a blocked pore and move in and breed rapidly, causing localized infections to develop. To make matters even worse, they alter the chemical composition of skin oil in a way that is even more irritating to the skin.

4. Redness and inflammation

When the body’s immune system detects the presence of an infection and / or foreign invaders such as the bacteria harboring inside your pores, it mounts an immune response by sending in white blood cells to fix the situation. Whilst the battle is taking place, redness and inflammation takes place is experienced.

All of these 4 factors combined together are acne causes and result in the formation of whiteheads, blackheads, pustules, or cysts.

Using the above 4 topical acne causes as the basis of choosing topical acne products means you need a product that will:

1. Fight bacterial infection

2. Reduce greasiness / slow down oil production

3. Unblock pores

4. Calm redness and inflammation