What Causes Blackheads and Acne?

Blackheads are blemishes characterized by dark spots that commonly appear on the face, neck, back and shoulders. They are a form of acne and they occur when hair follicles or pores are clogged with oil, dead skin cells and bacteria. They are definitely a hassle to have and when not treated well, they have a big chance of re-occurrence and you’ll only be left with more to deal with.

Prevention is key- so instead of having to spend a lot on expensive blackhead removal products or treatments in the future, do your part now and learn how blackheads can be prevented in the first place.

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Here are some of the common causes of blackheads and acne in general:

Heredity

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the genes in your family can play a significant role in your skin condition, particularly acne. If your parents have suffered from blackheads, whiteheads, pimples or other forms of acne, you have a greater chance of suffering these conditions as well. Other natural causes of blackheads include the hormones from puberty, menstrual cycle and pregnancy.

Skin Shedding

Blackheads form when our naturally occurring oil called sebum combines with dead skin cells and blocks our pores. Our skin constantly replaces itself with new layers of skin and in the process sheds older skin cells, which sebum combines with and causes acne. If you have dry and flaky skin, the higher your chances are of developing acne, so be sure to keep your skin moisturized at all times.

Stress

It has been known that blackheads and other forms of acne come out when our skin is under strain, although no direct relationship between stress and blackheads have been proven. However, it can directly mean that you have the tendency to neglect your body’s needs including your skin’s when you’re under constant stress. So balance your daily activities and find some ways to de-stress to have more time to take care of your body.

Food

There is a saying that goes, “You are what you eat”, and this couldn’t be more true in the case of acne. It is proven that the food you consume directly impacts the health of your skin. Foods that are high in sugar, carbohydrates as well as fried foods are the number one culprits in causing blackheads when taken in large quantities. So cut down on these types of food. If donuts, chocolates, french fries make you break out, you know what to do.

Alcohol and Caffeine

If you want to prevent or get rid of blackheads then you should cut down on your coffee and alcohol intake. Both have adverse effects on the skin’s health, causing breakouts. Studies have shown that the stimulants found in caffeine give your oil glands a kick start causing oily skin. On the other hand, alcohol is said to reduce the size of our pores which means it helps cause clogging.

So before you find yourself in panic thinking what to do about your blackheads, avoid or at least cut down on these causes to help you save yourself from the dreaded acne.