What are the causes of acne?

1. Genetics
If your parents have acne during their teenage years, then you have a higher chance of getting acne. You may also inherit an overactive oil gland from your parents or grandparents.

2. Hormones
High amounts of hormones stimulate the oil glands to produce more oil and sebum. High amounts of sebum lead to pore clogging. High levels of sex hormones are expected during puberty. During menstrual cycles hormonal activity is also high.

3. Anabolic Steroids
They are used by body builders to increase muscle mass. The use of anabolic steroids increases the hormone testosterone which is also converted to dihydrotestosterone. Dihydrotestosterone causes the oil glands to pump more oil.

4. Medication containing halogens (iodides, bromides, chlorides), lithium,barbiturates or androgens

5. Exposure to high levels halogenated aromatic compounds (chlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans)
A good example of a victim of this type of ACNE also known as Chloracne is the Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko.

References:

1. http://dermnetnz.org/acne/acne-causes.html "Causes of acne" (Last updated 08 Aug 2007)
2. http://www.acneguide.ca/basics/acne/what_causes_acne.html "What Causes Acne?"(Last modified: Friday, 16-Feb-2007")
3. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/acne.html "Acne" (Topic last reviewed: 13 September 2007)

Last updated: May 18, 2008