There is no singular cause for acne. Instead, there are several different causes. As you might imagine, each cause has a different treatment. Before you start to treat your skin, you need to understand the cause of your blemishes and the possible solutions. Then, you can get to work treating the root of the issue. Here’s a guide to some of the causes and treatments of acne.

1. Hormones and Acne

Although people often write off their acne as just bad genetics, the issue may be hormonal. Certain health issues directly affect your hormones. As a result, you can develop high testosterone levels. One prime example of the correlation between hormones and acne is a polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS. Often, women with PCOS have blemishes. It’s not until they realize they have PCOS that they can understand why they have blemishes.
PCOS is a health issue that occurs when you have a hormonal imbalance. Although one of the most common symptoms is acne, other symptoms include irregular periods and excess hair growth. While between 5% and 10% of women have PCOS, many of them are not aware of it. They blame their blemishes on other issues.
When you think that a hormonal imbalance is the cause of your blemishes, there are things that you can do. First, you can ask your doctor to test you for PCOS. This could involve a blood test or an ultrasound. If it is PCOS or another imbalance, your doctor can prescribe medication that should help. Anti-androgens and oral contraceptives are common treatments of hormonal imbalance. Usually, they clear up your skin.

2. Larger Pores

Over the years, your pores may expand. When this happens, more oil can get into your pores and clog them up. As a result, pimples form. If you find that your blemishes are getting worse with time, the problem could be expanding pores.
There are several things that can cause your pores to expand. Sun damage, stress, and smoking are all activities that break down the collagen in your skin. In the process, your pores stretch open and leave you susceptible to acne. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can prevent your pores from stretching. Protecting your skin is the best way to accomplish this. If possible, avoid the sun and apply sunblock when you plan to be outdoors. You should also avoid smoking and practice self-care to limit stress.
Of course, you can’t completely prevent your skin from stretching. To counter the effects of time and the elements, use skin products that contain retinol. Collagen restoring products can bring the elasticity back to your pores and reduce their size. As an added benefit, they can also make your wrinkles disappear.

3. Bacteria Build-Up

In general, there are four things that contribute to acne production. Oil production, clogged pores, dead skin cells, and bacteria all can cause blemishes. Contrary to possible belief, your break-outs may not be your fault. You probably don’t ingest too much greasy food. It’s likely that there is a reason for your acne. Whatever that reason may be, your problem is the bacteria.
Your acne is a problem because of bacteria. Once your pores contain too much oil and dead skin, bacteria can grow. As it grows, it causes the redness and swelling that comes with blemishes. While you can treat the main cause of your acne, you can also treat the bacteria. This gets rid of your problem and leaves your skin looking clear.
To fight the bacteria, you can try a few different treatments. LED facials are one of the newest and most effective trends. Using a Blue LED anti bacterial therapy light, you can kill off the bacteria and prevent blemishes. And the therapy is simple and gets results quickly. Another way to fight the bacteria is to see a dermatologist about a prescription medication. Although there are different types of acne medications, antibiotics are the common choice for killing off bacteria. Often, a dermatologist prescribes a retinoid with an antibiotic.

4. Your diet

It’s a myth that greasy foods cause blemishes. However, certain foods can make you more likely to develop blemishes. One major culprit is dairy. In fact, one study showed that girls who drank at least two glasses of milk each day had a 20% greater chance of having acne than those who drank less milk. Many experts believe that the hormones in dairy products are the reason for this statistic. If you drink or eat too many dairy products, you may be exacerbating your skin problem.
To prevent dairy from making your skin worse, you can buy organic dairy products. Look for ones that don’t contain too many added hormones. And if you can’t avoid dairy products with hormones, you can take care of your pores. Use a retinoid cream to make your pores smaller and prevent oil from building up. As a result, you may have skin that’s clearer.