Acne’s Real Root Causes (and Not What You May Have Heard)

What causes acne?

Although there are many possible causes for acne, let us be clear: it is not caused by bacteria growth. This, my friends, is not the root cause.

Overwashing your face can actually be very harmful to your skin. Exercising too much cleansing and tonifying can cause damage to your skin’s integrity. What is the problem? How can you overwash?

• You can disrupt your skin’s microbiome, which is the natural microbes living on your skin’s surface. Diverse skin microbiomes are important for skin health. They maintain a healthy pH, protect your skin from harmful bacteria, and provide protection against external infections.

• Your skin’s acid mantle can be altered. This is a thin layer made up of natural oils and secretions. It creates a slightly acidic barrier between skin cells and the outside environment. This acid mantle helps keep your skin moisturized and protects it from bacteria and other microbes. This means that your skin’s natural oils and sebum are vital to its health.

Acne: The Real Root Causes

If bacteria is not the true root cause of acne, what are the root causes? These are just a few.

• Hormonal imbalances such as estrogen dominance or androgen excess
  
• Hormonal dysregulation after birth control, resulting in sebum production and hormone imbalances
  
• Insulin resistance
  
• Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction
  
• Food sensitivities can be caused by nervous system imbalances
  
• Inadequacy in the elimination of metabolic wastes and toxins

There are many other possible causes depending on the organ system that is affected. This should show you that acne bacteria is not the problem. They are merely opportunistic little bugs that thrive in unhealthy environments.

Moral of the story

While you may believe you have been treating the root cause of acne for many months, you were actually making things worse by washing your face with harsh cleaners. Overwashing your skin is falsely believed to be a sign that your skin is damaged.

People with acne often get the subtle message, or not-so-subtle message, that “your skin is filthy.” This can make you feel shameful or dirty. It’s difficult to feel loved and worthy when you feel like this. It is a terrible and frustrating cycle.

We want to let you know that your skin is doing all the healing work it needs. Your skin is beautiful, and your body is smart. Because there is an internal imbalance, your amazing body creates an environment that encourages acne. It’s just getting rid of it. The acne is an indication that your body is working hard to heal itself.

If your acne disappears, which we are certain it will, it is a sign that you have healed any deeper emotional and physical imbalances, as well as any prior wounds.

Never feel that your skin is less than perfect.