The cause of acne is reasonably easy to state. The sebaceous glands in the skin begin producing an excess of oil which builds up in the pores, trapping dead skin cells that would otherwise have been shed. This forms an excellent breeding ground for bacteria that lives on everyone’s skin. As they multiply, spots form. Because the majority of people experience acne during their teen years, it’s easy to focus on puberty and the lifestyle of young adults as the primary causes of the problem. So most people blame hormones, too much sexual activity too early, and offer each other advice on hygiene. When acne comes later in life, people look for similar lifestyle issues. Read the rest of this entry »