Teen acne is a disease that strikes over 85% of teenagers, yet most people have no idea exactly what causes teen acne. In many cases what most people know about teen acne is really only a number of myths. While the mechanisms of this disease aren't clear, scientists know enough to tell what can and what can't cause it.

Diet (myth and fact)

One of the most common beliefs about teen acne is that it is the result of an improper diet. The truth is that in most cases diet has little or no effect on teen acne. While one of the US studies shows a connection between a high-carbohydrate diet and some forms of acne, it's not a simple cause-effect connection. The disease won't go away just because chocolate is dropped as a snack food.

Exercise (myth)

Too much exercise is also supposed to increase teen acne. At first glance, it seems logical - the disease is connected to oily skin and you sweat a lot during physical exercises. But again, there is no connection between doing exercises and teen acne. It won't get better if we stop running.

Dirt (myth)

Dirt was also pointed out as a cause of acne. As with exercise, at first glance it seems logical. Teen acne is the result of clogging the skin's pores - and dirt certainly can do that! However, washing can't cure teen acne. It won't even help. In most cases the pores are clogged by dead skin cells, not dirt.

Sex (myth)

Another common myth is that sexual activity (or lack of it) can cause acne. While teen acne and the first sexual encounters usually start at about the same time, there is no cause-effect connection between them. They have nothing to do with each other.

Physiological reasons (fact)

The real causes of teen acne are purely physiological. During growing up process male hormones (they exist in both male and female) over-stimulate the oil-producing glands. The oil impedes the rate of dead skin cell shredding. Dead cells are stuck in the pores and they prevent oil from leaving the skin. This creates a perfect place for acne bacteria to grow and multiply. This quickly leads to inflammation and spots. As you see, teen acne comes and goes along with hormone activity during the teen years.

Now you know the facts and myths concerning teen acne.