PROVEN Team
PROVEN Team includes Stanford scientists and dermatologists who combine their expertise with cutting-edge technology to bring you the best for your skin.
Causes of Acne: A Science Backed Approach
Persisting breakouts? Science may have a solution.
Resource by: PROVEN Team
Causes of Acne
Blemishes form when pores get blocked with oil and debris, leading to red and inflamed lesions. At the bottom of these pores are the sebaceous glands that produce sebum -- an oily substance that keeps the skin moisturized and protected.
While excess sebum production is one of the causes of acne, there are other variables at play. Acne -- particularly the painful cystic type -- can run in families, so the chances are that if your siblings or parents struggled with acne nodules, you might have similar issues.
Primary causes of pimples
According to dermatologists, these are the primary causes of acne on the face and body:
Bacteria is present everywhere on the skin, and some types are beneficial. However, when pores are clogged by skin cells, debris, and sebum, this promotes the growth of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). This slow-growing bacterium triggers an inflammatory response leading to pimples, pustules, and cystic nodules.
There is no single gene that causes blemishes, but research suggests a hereditary component, especially among first-degree relatives who suffer from regular breakouts.
Adolescent acne is thought to be triggered by surging androgen hormones that make the skin's sebum thicker and more likely to block pores and trap bacteria. Androgen hormones are converted to estrogen in women. That explains why women are more prone to pimples during menstruation and may experience breakouts during perimenopause and menopause-- when estrogen levels decline, causing blemishes on the chin, neck, and jawline.
While you may have heard in the past that your diet can directly cause acne, the relationship isn’t quite that straightforward. For example, many people falsely assume that eating greasy or sugary foods will cause you to break out. While that’s not necessarily the case, the foods you eat do have an effect on the body’s inflammatory and hormonal responses in a more convoluted way. When these responses are affected by foods with a high sugar or carbohydrate content, your insulin levels rise and your body reacts by releasing hormones that can lead to blemishes. As a result, eating a lot of dairy products or carbohydrate products can negatively impact your skin and lead to acne breakouts.
Stress is another cause of acne that is commonly misunderstood. While stress does not trigger acne directly, it does tend to worsen existing breakouts. This is because the body’s healing mechanisms aren’t as effective during times of stress. As a result, existing breakouts don’t heal properly and can worsen as a result.
Certain drugs can impact the immune system, which may indirectly affect follicles and acne formation. The following medications can cause or aggravate acne: corticosteroids, Ciclosporin, Azathioprine, halogens, lithium, epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, and certain anti-epileptics.
Other Risk Factors for Acne
There have been many studies on acne's epidemiology, and it all boils down to the body'sresponse to excess oil production and the growth of P. acnes bacteria. Anecdotal evidence andclinical trials suggest that a person's risk may be increased by one or more of the following:
- Pityrosporum yeast is linked to tiny rounded pimples on the forehead
- History of smoking
- Comedogenic ingredients that block pores, including lanolins and isopropyl derivatives
- High humidity environments
- Medical conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome that affect hormone levels in the body
Different Types of Acne
Just as the causes of acne tend to differ, the exact appearance of acne varies as well depending on the type. There are six different types of acne that you should know about in order to nail down the underlying cause and come up with an appropriate treatment for your stubborn acne:
Whiteheads are a non-inflammatory type of acne that occur when pores are completely clogged. The head of the pore is closed and a small white bump appears on the skin. A whitehead is also known as a closed comedone since the head of the pore is completely closed. Whiteheads should not be treated by picking or popping.
Blackheads are also a non-inflammatory type of acne that occur when a pore is clogged but the head of the pore remains open. As a result, a small black dot appears on the skin. A blackhead is also known as an open comedone since the head of the pore remains open. Blackheads should not be treated by squeezing in order to avoid scarring.
A papule is a type of moderate inflammatory acne that occurs when a blocked pore also contains the bacteria Cutibacterium acnes. The contents of the blocked pore spill out and affect the surrounding skin tissue, forming an inflamed red bump on the surface of the skin.
A pustule is another type of moderate inflammatory acne that occurs when a papule accumulates pus in the center. Most papules will turn into pustules within a few days. Although it may be tempting to pop a pustule to get rid of the pus, this could actually cause the bacteria causing the infection to spread further.
A nodule is a type of severe inflammatory acne that occurs when Cutibacterium acnes causes an infection deep within the pore. As a result, you will develop a small bump underneath the skin that may be red in color. This type of acne may be painful to the touch.
A cyst is the most severe type of inflammatory acne that occurs when Cutibacterium acnes causes an infection deep within the pore and results in large, red, and pus-filled bumps beneath the surface of the skin. These bumps may eventually burst -- which then affects the surrounding skin.
Personalized Formulas for Clear Skin
No matter the cause or appearance of your acne, choosing the most effective therapy requires the right skincare ingredients. The approach to achieving clear, pimple-free skin depends on several personal factors that are all considered in the PROVEN skin quiz. Our cutting-edge formulas for glowing, healthy skin are personalized according to your age, environment, gene expression, and lifestyle.
When you take our skin quiz, you are matched with a personalized formula that is incorporated into three different skincare products: a cleanser, a moisturizer, and a night cream. Depending on your skin quiz results, your products may contain acne-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid, niacinamide, tea tree oil, and alpha-hydroxy acids. These ingredients are all natural and are gentle enough to use on a daily basis.
As a part of your PROVEN Skincare routine, you will cleanse your skin in the morning with your cleanser to get rid of excess dirt, oil, and sweat that tend to clog pores and lead to acne blemishes. From there, you will apply your moisturizer to help manage oil production and provide your skin with some lightweight hydration. Your PROVEN moisturizer also contains SPF 40, so there’s no need to apply extra sun protection products that tend to be thick and oily that may end up clogging your pores.
At the end of the day, you will remove any makeup from your face using a gentle wipe or a solution like micellar water. You will cleanse again using your PROVEN cleanser to achieve a totally clean face before applying a thin layer of night cream. This cream is jam-packed with powerful ingredients that can fight additional skin concerns such as oiliness, redness, or dryness that could be exacerbating your acne.
Here is why personalized skincare is better
Personalized skincare comes with a host of benefits
  |   | |
|---|---|---|
| Formulated and made-to-order for you | No | |
| Targeting your unique hyperpigmentation needs | No | |
| Optimized for your lifestyle + environment | No | |
| Easy 3-step system for all your skin needs | No | |
| Made by Stanford scientists and AI tech | No |
Our Team
We're industry leaders in skincare
Dr. Yuan is a Computational Physicist from Stanford University
Proven co-founder, Dr. Amy Yuan, fixed her skincare woes by using her computer science background to analyze the effectiveness of more than 20,238 skincare ingredients, 100,000 products, 20 million testimonials, and more than 4,000 scientific journal articles. Now she is applying that to create the perfect skincare for you.
Your Skin Routine In 3 Simple Steps
Your Personalized Cleanser
Ensures any dirt from the day is removed to reveal glowing, healthy and fresh feeling skin
Your Personalized Day Moisturizer
Helps prevent the skin from drying out, while targeting other issues you may have.
Your Personalized Night Cream
Restores elasticity and delivers intensive nourishment to repair, plump and firm skin while you get your beauty sleep.
