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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffHormonal changes in your body can provoke or aggravate acne. Such changes are common in:
- Teenagers
- Women and girls, two to seven days before their periods
- Pregnant women
- People using certain medications, including those containing corticosteroids, androgens or lithium
Other risk factors include:
- Direct skin contact with greasy or oily substances, or to certain cosmetics applied directly to the skin
- A family history of acne — if your parents had acne, you're likely to develop it, too
- Friction or pressure on your skin caused by various items, such as telephones or cellphones, helmets, tight collars and backpacks
- Stress doesn't cause acne, but if you have acne already, stress may make it worse
References
- Questions and answers about acne. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Acne/default.asp. Accessed Aug. 9, 2011.
- Acne, rosacea, and related disorders. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 5th ed. Edinburgh, U.K.; New York, N.Y.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00016-X&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&uniqId=273578979-2#4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00016-X--s0095. Accessed Aug. 9, 2011.
- Ofori AO. Pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of acne vulgaris. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 10, 2011.
- Bowe WP, et al. Diet and acne. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2010;63:124.
- Ofori AO. Treatment of acne vulgaris. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 10, 2011.
- Ofori AO. Light-based, adjunctive, and other therapies for acne vulgaris. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 10, 2011.
- Soltes B. Intense pulsed light therapy. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America. 2010;37:489.
- Acne scarring. American Academy of Dermatology's AcneNet. http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/scarring.html. Accessed Aug. 11, 2011.
- Tea tree oil. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Aug. 9, 2011.
- Alpha hydroxy acids. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Aug. 9, 2011.
- Zinc. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Aug. 9, 2011.
- Saccharomyces boulardii. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Aug. 9, 2011.
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