Why Do Pimples Form?

Introduction

One of the hardest parts of entering puberty for many adolescents is the sudden appearance of pimples. The severity of pimple outbreaks depends on the person, but even one well-placed pimple on the face can cause issues and embarrassment. Teenagers going through puberty experience problems with pimples the most. However, pimple problems can occur all the way through adulthood. Though the severity of an outbreak can vary from person to person, the reason for an outbreak usually remains the same.

Hormones

Hormones tend to be the No. 1 cause of most pimple outbreaks for most people. Pimples form when oil and dead skin cells get trapped in the pores of your skin. The buildup continues inside the pore with the secretion of sebum, an oil used to waterproof and protect hair. Sebum is created by the sebaceous glands of your body. These glands are activated by hormones created by the adrenal glands. Once your body reaches the age of puberty, these glands can become overactive, causing an excess of sebum. The more sebum in the pore, the greater chance of a pimple forming.

Stress

Stress has a mental and physical effect on the body. When your body gets stressed, it activates your adrenal glands to produce adrenaline. As discussed before, adrenaline causes sebaceous glands to create excess amounts of sebum. The more stressed you become, the greater chance of excess sebum--resulting in more pimples.

Genetics

Different people have different skin cell makeup and pore structures. This makeup and structure is largely due to genetic traits. Conditions such as dry or oily skin can affect how often you experience pimples because of how easily pores can become clogged.

Hygiene

Hygiene is an often overlooked cause of pimples. Using a daily face wash paired with a face scrub will dramatically decrease the amount of pimples your body will have to deal with. The face scrub helps to remove dead skin cells from your face; the face wash helps to regulate the amount of oil and sebum present on the face itself.