Acne & spots

Why some people get acne

Normal hormone changes at puberty. No one knows why some people’s skin secretes more sebum (grease) than others. The sebum-producing glands become particularly active soon after puberty, around the age of 11–14 years, and this is when acne usually starts.

Heredity. Acne tends to run in families. If your parent, brother or sister was (or is) an acne sufferer, you are 3–4 times more likely than average to have it yourself. According to a report in the New Scientist (21 December 2002), studies of twins have shown that acne is 80% genetic; everything else is relatively unimportant.

Smoking. Smokers have more and worse spots than non-smokers.

Medications. Some drugs can cause acne. The best-known example is anabolic steroids taken by body-builders, but phenytoin (for epilepsy), rifampicin (for tuberculosis/TB), vitamin B12 (for anaemia) and lithium (for mood-swings) can also produce acne. Occasionally, chemicals in the workplace, such as industrial oils, are responsible.

Contraceptive pill. Most oral contraceptives contain both oestrogen and progesterone. Oestrogen usually improves acne, whereas progesterone can make it worse, so it is not surprising that the pill worsens acne in some people and improves it in others. There are various different types of progesterone, so check the label on your pill packet: ‘gestodene’, ‘desogestrel’, ‘norgestimate’ and the pill containing ‘drospirenone’ (Yasmin) are good choices.

Polycystic ovary syndrome. If you are a woman, and your periods have become irregular and you have noticed an increase in hairiness of your skin as well as acne, you might have polycystic ovary syndrome. This can be treated, so see your doctor if you suspect it.

• Acne & spots – main page
• Common beliefs – true or false
• How you can improve your skin
• What your doctor can do
• Acne and pregnancy
• Scarring
• Useful contacts