What causes pimples

What is it with pimples? Just before the special occasion, which you have been looking forward to, pimples start to appear. The causes of pimples have a lot in common with the causes of acne. This similarity leads to the treatment of pimples being pretty much the same as the treatment of acne. While acne is associated with adolescents and tends to stop occurring after the age of twenty; pimples can appear whenever the triggering causes occur and at any age.

The main causes of pimples are the combined presence and accumulation of dead skin cells and bacteria building up in the pores of the skin. Bacteria on the skin is not unusual, we all have a range of bacteria living on our skin. Normally this does not cause a problem, but it can if the bacterium infects the pores of the skin. When this happens red lumps appear at the site of the infection. These lumps can cause complications by producing pus.

The same result can happen when there is an overproduction of sebum, or dead skin cells accumulation, and poor hygiene. Cleaning the skin well helps to reduce the causes of pimples by reducing any accumulation of sebum and removing dead skin cells as well as any dirt containing bacteria. Washing is a fine balance between doing enough to keep the skin clean and washing too much and increasing the production of sebum and so aggravating existing pimples and triggering more.

Changes in your body and its immune system are another possibility when considering the causes of pimples. Anything that lowers our body’s natural defense systems can increase susceptibility to all types of infections including pimples. The immune system can be made vulnerable through the effects of sickness, stress, poor nutrition and hormonal changes.

Some women get pimples as their monthly period approaches; due to the hormonal changes they are going through. They usually do not last very long and number only a few.

We are all different and the causes of pimples can be different in each of us but the ones outlined above are common and can be alleviated by reducing the triggers as discussed below.

Reducing the triggers

Avoid transferring dust and dirt to the skin on your face by not touching it with your hands, this will take a conscious effort and some self control. Washing the skin twice in a day should be sufficient to keep sebum production under control.

Knowing that stress can have a strong impact on our health and well being, it is worth taking action to counter the stress that builds up through avoidance and stress relieving techniques. Making changes to your life and habits is not easy but it can have a big impact on your general health and may well reduce the severity of pimples.

If you experience pimples in the days before your monthly period then you may wish to anticipate the timing and pay especial care to your skin cleaning to ensure it remains free of excess sebum during these times.