What Causes Acne?
To best understand how AviClear works, you must first understand how breakouts happen. Acne often occurs when sebum, or oil, mixes with dead skin cells and clogs your pores. Sebum is produced by sebaceous glands, which AviClear targets. While often associated with adolescence, acne can affect individuals of all ages. Other causes of acne include:
- Hormonal Fluctuations: Hormonal changes are heightened during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and stress. This stimulates the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, which, in turn, can lead to more acne.
- Inflammation: Inflammation is an under-recognized cause of acne. When the body detects clogged pores and the resulting bacterial growth, it triggers redness, swelling, and discomfort. Inflamed acne will appear as papules, pustules, cysts, and nodules. These are most often considered severe acne and can lead to scarring if not treated correctly.
- Genetics: Sometimes, there are causes outside of your control. If your parents or other close family members have struggled with acne, you may struggle with it too. Genetics can determine how much oil your skin produces, how prone you are to experiencing inflammation, and how your skin reacts to bacteria or environmental factors. This can lead to the production of more acne.
External Factors: Multiple external factors can exacerbate acne.
- Diet: For those who have sensitivities to high-glycemic foods or dairy products, this can contribute to breakouts.
- Stress negatively affects every body system. While it doesn’t directly cause acne, it can trigger hormonal fluctuations that can lead to acne.
- Skincare Products: Not all skincare products are created equal. Comedogenic products can clog pores and irritate the skin, leading to acne.
- Friction and Pressure: Have you ever broken out on your chest or back when you didn’t shower immediately after a workout? Trapped sweat and oil can cause acne in tight clothing, such as hats or masks.
- Environmental Factors: Breathing clean air not only benefits your lungs and bodily functions but also your skin. Pollution, and even humidity, can clog pores and increase the risk of breakouts.
