what causes acne on cheeks

Causes of Acne

There are factors that can contribute to the formation of acne. Some of these factors are as follows: overproduction of oil, the irregular shedding of dead skin cells which results in the irritation of the hair follicles on your skin, and a buildup of bacteria on your skin.

Acne takes place when there is a buildup of oil, dead skin cells and bacteria in the hair follicles in your skin. The hair follicles in your skin are connected to your sebaceous glands and these glands are the ones that secrete that oily substance called sebum so that your skin shall be well-lubricated. The sebum normally passes along the hair shafts and then out through the opening of these follicles but when these follicles are blocked with the dead skin cells, the sebum becomes trapped inside and a soft plug is created wherein bacteria can grow and multiply.

The plug which was then created will then cause the follicle wall to bulge and be transformed into a white head. Otherwise, the plug would be one which is open on the surface which then darkens, and by then, it shall be a blackhead.

Pimples develop when the blocked hair follicle becomes infected due to the growth of bacteria caused by the blockage. Cysts shall occur whenever the blockages and the inflammation which have developed within the follicles have produced lumps underneath the surface of your skin. The other pores in your skin are not normally involved. When it comes to acne, what is usually involved are your hair follicles.

Some of the things that may worsen your acne are your hormones, your medications, and your diet. Hormones such as androgens which begin to increase during puberty in young boys and girls tend to cause the sebaceous glands to become enlarged and to produce more sebum than they normally do. The production of sebum can also be caused by hormonal changes which can be related to pregnancy and the use of oral contraceptives. These hormonal changes are common in teenagers, in women who are 2-7 days prior to their menstrual period, in pregnant women, and in people taking certain medications.

There are medications which can also worsen your acne like corticosteroids,
lithium and even androgens.
Your diet also affects your acne. Studies have shown that dairy products and foods high in carbohydrates, like bread, chips, and bagels which elevate your blood sugar levels, can trigger acne.
Other factors that may trigger acne would be when the skin is in direct contact with greasy or oily substances or certain cosmetics with this characteristic. Another factor would be your genes. Yet another factor would be the friction or the pressure on your skin which is inflicted by certain items like telephones or cell phones, helmets, tight collars, and even backpacks. Stress is also a factor that can make your acne worse.