What Causes Skin Break Outs?

What Causes Skin Break Outs?

Skin Break outs may be caused by acne, irritation, allergies or exposure to toxins. Acne is the most common cause, especially among teenagers. Here, you can learn more about the causes and the solutions.

There are numerous types of acne. The most common is acne vulgaris. It affects nearly 9% of the population worldwide and is caused by a combination of factors including hormonal changes, excessive bacteria on the skin, excessive sebum production, dietary habits and genetics. It typically starts around puberty.

The symptoms of acne vulgaris may include oily skin, blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, cysts and scarring. Side effects caused by treatments may include dryness, itching, redness and increased inflammation.

Mallorca acne occurs after sun exposure and is characterized by raised red bumps that may or may not contain pus. It is a relatively rare form and usually does not require treatment.

Acne conglobata mainly affects men and usually starts between the ages of 18 and 30. It usually clears up by the age of 40 and is associated with testosterone and the use of anabolic steroids. Another possible cause is exposure to toxins such as aromatic hydrocarbons or halogens.

The symptoms include blackheads and large pimples that re-fill with fluid, tend to spread and sometimes group together to form large nodules. Treatments are similar to those of acne vulgaris.

Cosmetic acne is a reaction to cosmetics such as makeup, sunblock or moisturizers. The products basically clog the pores. Cosmetics can also cause folliculitis which is similar in appearance to acne. Reactions are more likely if makeup is not removed before bedtime or is worn for many hours during the day.

Acne mechanica is a term used to refer to localized break outs that occur as a result of friction or other repetitive trauma. For example, football helmets, shoulder pads, bras straps and tight clothing can cause a break out only on the area of the body that is rubbed by the item.

Rosacea usually affects people over the age of 40, but can appear anytime between the ages of 30 and 60. It is characterized by redness of the neck and face. Pimples or bumps may be present in the red areas. It primarily affects Caucasians of Western European descent, which means there may be a genetic cause.

In all of these conditions, there are usually periods of remission, when there are no break outs, and periods of activity, when there are multiple break outs. Some of the things that are known to trigger break outs include stress, medications, the use of certain skin-care products and exposure to chemicals such as chlorine.

The goal of most treatments is to minimize breakouts and reduce the risk of scarring. Medications, including antibiotics, retinoids and hormones are sometimes prescribed for severe cases. More commonly topical benzoyl peroxide or antiseptics are used.

The medications typically cause unpleasant side effects and the topically applied products often cause skin irritation or worsen inflammation.

Wrote by: Unknown - Tuesday, 28 May 2013