Risk factors for developing Acne

Acne can affect everyone regardless of age, gender, or skin type. However, some people are more susceptible to developing acne, whether it has to do with genetics or physiological factors. The following are examples of the most common things that put you at risk of developing acne.

Age

Teenagers are at the highest risk of getting acne because of all of the hormonal changes that occur during this time. The increase of hormonal activity creates more oils in the sebaceous glands which lead to breakouts.

Gender

Acne affects both men and women relatively equally but men tend to get more severe, longer lasting cases of acne due to the male hormones called androgens. These types of hormones are the biggest contributors to acne.

Family History of Acne

If you have family members who have had cases of bad acne there is a chance that you will also be affected by the condition.

Pregnancy

Women who are pregnant experience an imbalance in hormones and in some cases, these changes can cause pregnant women to develop acne.

Stress

People who experience high levels of stress are often at risk of developing acne. Stress throws of the body's hormonal balance, often leading to breakouts.

Cosmetics and lotions

There are a number of cosmetic products and creams that contain certain ingredients that can aggravate the skin and stimulate acne. Using old makeup and facial products, as well as not cleaning your makeup brushes regularly, can feed the natural occurring acne bacteria in the skin and lead to breakouts.

Improper hygiene

There is a certain misconception that having clean skin means acne won't develop. This causes some people to overly cleanse their face or scrub too hard which can actually irritate the skin and cause acne. Also, avoid washing your face with hot water as this can lead to breakouts as well. Acne can also develop when we touch our face with dirty hands. So, ensure your hands are clean before touching your skin. While all these factors can increase your chances of developing acne it is important to understand that hormones have the most influence on acne production in the skin. When hormones are unbalanced or in a constant state of change, large amounts of the skin's oils are produced, clogging the pores and causing breakouts. Since our hormones can change at different times in our lives, the presence of acne is unpredictable and can occur at any time.