Blemishes in the form of whiteheads, blackheads and pimples are an embarrassing fact of life for over 40 million Americans, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. If you are one of the millions of sufferers, you've likely tried a number of remedies to clear up your skin. Unfortunately, you may not be targeting the right cause of blemishes to effectively clear your skin. Consider the causes of blemishes to identify which type of blemishes you have and how best to treat them.
Excess Oil
Overactive sebaceous glands are one of the main culprits for blemishes, according to MayoClinic.com. If your skin is overly dry, your sebaceous glands overcompensate by producing more oil to make up for a loss in moisture. Even if your skin doesn't seem dry on the surface, you could be washing with too harsh a soap that dries out your pores and signals the sebaceous glands to begin producing oil. That oil clogs pores and becomes trapped under the surface of the skin, resulting in an ugly blemish.
Hormones
Depending on your age, hormones could be the reason for your sudden increase in blemishes. Hormones can confuse sebaceous glands to produce more oil. When your hormones trigger excess oil production, your pores become clogged with Propionibacterium acne, a bacteria that results in bumps and blemishes, according to KidsHealth.org, a division of the Nemours Foundation. If your blemishes are the cause of hormones, you may see a difference as your body regulates and becomes accustomed to the different hormones.
Stress
The amount of stress that you have in your life could be directly related to the amount of blemishes you have. Acne.org notes that when you endure a stressful situation, your body has an inflammatory reaction to the stress, causing the walls of your pores to swell and break. Bacteria and oil is more likely to become trapped inside, resulting in blemishes. While a stress-free lifestyle may not be a reality, finding constructive and effective ways of dealing with stress can help your skin.
Friction
Acne mechanica refers to the acne that occurs as a result of friction via equipment and tight clothes. When wearing certain pieces of clothing, sweat, dirt and oil becomes trapped in the pore, and the friction of the clothing irritates the skin. Acne mechanica are often smaller blemishes and they usually appear on the body as a result of bra straps, sporting equipment, tight clothing and musical instruments, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
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