Dealing with acne can be very stressful. Trying to figure out what causes it may be even more confusing. There may be many myths that surround this type of skin condition, and debunking these myths can help you deal with this skin condition better. There are a few major factors that contribute to the cause of irritable skin problems. These factors include: overproduction of oil in the skin, abnormal shedding that occurs with dead skin cells and the build up of bacteria.

Acne is the result of a combination oil and skin cells that are dead. These mix together inside the hair follicle. How? Well, each hair follicle is connected to a gland called a "sebaceous gland". This gland produces oils that work to lubricate the hair and skin.

The sebum begins its travels through the hair tunnels in order to find its way out of the hair follicle in order to do its lubrication duties. The problem occurs when too much oil is produced and then mixed with dead skin cells. Both the oils and dead skin cells mix together and create a clog.

The actual pimple you see on your skin is a direct result of this clog. This is because the mix of oil and dead skin cells push against the follicle wall, causing it to expand. You will then see the white head of the pimple. If the clog is exposed to open air and bacteria, a blackhead is formed.

The lumps that occur with this skin condition are a result of clogs that occur deep within the skin's surface. They form cysts beneath the skin. Their location deep beneath the skin is the reason you cannot see the white or black head. Wondering about sweat glands? Well, they are normally not associated with this type of skin condition.

So, the cause of how pimples are formed may be clear, but the reason behind the increased amount of oil production is still not clear, even to researchers. There are some indications of why this production increases. Hormone imbalances, bacteria, side effect of medicines and simple heredity factors all play a role.

Often, people will wrongly assume that acne is the result of poor hygiene, which is not the case. In reality, too much cleaning of the face with soaps can irritate the skin and cause a batch of other skin problems. Normal washing of the face with gentle soap is helpful for skin maintenance. If you continuously feel stressed about your skin condition, consult a doctor.