You may have heard it said that no one really knows what causes acne. While causes of acne may be individualized to an extent, some actual causes can be identified. It depends a bit on the type of acne you experience, your age, and your lifestyle. Here are some of the possible causes and triggers of acne.
Causes
Causes are different from triggers. For example, clogged pores may cause acne; but something triggers the pores to get clogged, or triggers them to become inflamed. Some possible causes of acne may include the following.
* A high-glycemic diet - Studies show a connection between high insulin levels in the body and the development of acne. Eating foods that convert quickly to sugar in the body - that is, high-glycemic foods - causes the body to produce large amounts of insulin to keep blood sugar levels stable. This large amount of insulin in the blood may cause or worsen acne - some health professionals have been known to call acne "diabetes of the skin"!
* Hormonal shifts - When you hit puberty, wean a baby, begin menopause or perimenopause, take birth control pills, etc., you experience hormonal shifts. Hormonal shifts are actually a common, normal, and relatively frequent occurrence during the average lifetime. After menopause and into old age, hormones tend to become more stable and not as subject to fluctuations. But that can take a while! In the meantime, hormonal changes may cause various types of acne, such as rosacea or localized breakouts.
Hormones may be responsible for increased production of oil or sebum on the skin, which is one of the contributions to clogged pores.
* Stress - While it's somewhat controversial, some conjecture that stress plays a role in acne. This may be due to the stress hormones that are produced when you suffer chronic stress. These hormones, particularly norepinephrine and epinephrine, are male hormones and are implicated in the development of acne. Also, during stressful periods or chronic stress, the immune system may be less effective. This could make the skin more vulnerable to bacterial infections and therefore acne.
Triggers
Triggers may be more individualized than causes; a trigger might be an allergy or sensitivity that is unique to certain sensitive individuals. Other triggers are more common. Here are some better-known acne triggers.
* Food allergies - For allergic individuals, eating problem foods creates inflammation, and inflammation plays a key role in acne development.
* Hair products - Hair products are often overlooked as a possible skin irritant, but acne triggered by hair products is more common than most people realize. Acne triggered by styling gels, conditioners, etc. tends to occur along the hair line or the jaw and neck.
Spot Treatment For Acne: 3 Natural Topical Applications
Below are 3 easy, natural topical applications that you can use to spot-treat those pesky pimples.
1.Tea tree oil also known as melaleuca, tea tree oil has strong antibacterial properties. If you’re prone to acne breakouts, keep a bottle of this essential oil at home at all times. To prepare the application, mix 1-2 drops of tea tree oil to 25-30ml of a carrier oil.
Coconut and jojoba are popular at the moment, but, you can use grapeseed oil as a carrier oil.
Dip a cotton pad into the mixture and dab that onto your spots. Never apply pure, undiluted tea tree oil on your skin – it can sting badly and cause a rash. Right now, your aim is to calm your skin down.
2.Turmeric has been used in India for centuries to treat a variety of ailments, the West has only recently discovered that this spice is powerful as an anti-inflammatory ingredient.
Take 2 teaspoons of turmeric, and mix with 4 tablespoons of yogurt (preferably Greek yogurt), 1 teaspoon of olive oil and 1-2 teaspoons of raw honey. Apply to your face for about 30-45 minutes and rinse it off gently. This soothing mask removes the bacteria and reduces the swelling of the acne.
Make sure to only use raw honey, which also has antibacterial properties. This is something you may have to source beforehand. Commercial honey is generally loaded with sugar.
Raw honey goes straight from the beehive to the container you buy it in. It is runny rather than gluey and has a tangy taste. Raw honey never expires; it is its own preservative. Again, the good stuff is more expensive but well worth the investment.
3. Green tea. You can apply green tea to acne. Like tea tree oil and turmeric, green tea has anti-bacterial properties which help kill acne. Take 1 teabag and let it steep in boiling water for about 3 minutes. Allow to cool and place the bag on the pimple for 30-45 minutes. You can use more than one bag if the breakout is bad.
If you have the patience, you can also open the bag and mix the contents with half a teaspoon of raw honey. Together, green tea and raw honey will create an unfriendly environment for bacteria to thrive in.