Is your acne indicating any underlying health issue?

Acne is a skin condition caused by clogged hair follicles with oil and dead cells. Blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples are caused by it. Acne is perhaps most common in teenagers, but it can affect people of any age. Treatments for acne are effective, but acne can be difficult to treat. The zits and bumps recover slowly, once one starts to fade, others appear. Acne, depending on its intensity, can cause anxiety and depression as well as skin scarring. The earlier you begin treatment, the lesser your risk of such complications.

Contrary to popular belief, acne in specific areas can indicate underlying health issues rather than simply clogged pores or hormone imbalance. Acne is primarily a hormonal disorder caused by androgen hormone levels, which become involved during adolescence and early adulthood. Acne can be caused by sensitivity to these hormones, in combination with surface bacteria on the epidermis and fatty acids within oil glands.

Hormonal acne occurs in adults and can range from blackheads and whiteheads to distressing cysts. Hormonal acne is caused by an excess of sebum (an oily substance produced by skin glands), that also clogs pores and causes pimples. Though hormonal acne is often unavoidable, it can be treated to avoid future breakouts.

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Adult female acne, when combined with other symptoms such as undesired hair growth (on the breast, face, or belly), inexplicable hair loss, or abnormal periods, can be a sign of hormonal changes. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is the most common (PCOS). Sudden, inflammatory pimples that are uniform, consist of red bumps or cysts, and appear over an affected area at the same time may be caused by steroid use. Acne of various colours may not be acne at all, which may explain why they do not respond to treating acne or medications "Milia, a type of obstructed pore, can appear as small, hard, white bumps. A high number of blackhead-like lesions clustered on the cheeks and crow's feet area can indicate chronic sun damage." Furthermore, yellowish bumps on the forehead and cheeks, which are more common in older adults, could be caused by oil gland enlargement (sebaceous gland hyperplasia).