Do I Have the Acne Gene?
If you have experienced acne in your life the answer is most likely yes, yes you do! Okay, so we can’t say that there is complete scientific evidence to support a DNA code responsible for your pimples – but it is proven that acne is caused by a genetic predisposition. And this means you can blame your parents and not yourself for your acne-prone skin!
So let’s break down what acne is, why you are plagued with it, and how to take control.
Way too often we see clients thinking they are doing something wrong or there is something wrong internally that is harming their skin. And while both are contributing factors to breakouts – the truth is, you were born with your acne-proneness. It is a malfunction of your pores and actually a disease of the pores with no complete cure (as of now). So, we instead manage the disease of acne to get skin as clear as possible.
Acne is a combination of built-up skin and oil in the hair follicle that causes inflammation and then a pimple. It will often creep up first in puberty because hormones control oil production and oil production spikes the disease. So, while hormones didn’t cause the acne, they did trigger it.
Another falsehood of acne is attributing it solely to a gut imbalance. Oral probiotics and skincare products with probiotics have been trending for acne treatment. And while your skin does have a natural bacterial balance like your gut – there is no solid evidence of the connection between gut health and acne yet. We encourage you to get your gut checked for your digestive issues but don’t spend too much time at the doctor (or worse the Reddit boards) searching for the link to your skin.
However, the facts are that dairy products (whey protein included), sugar, soy, and multivitamins are serious triggers for some people who are acne-prone and shouldn’t be consumed in excess. But again, these are triggers – not causes (read here for more secret acne triggers). What you put in your body is so important for so many reasons, but people who eat nutritiously and drink water often still have acne. And people with poor diet habits often have clear skin. Your skin gets nutrients last, so they will enhance but not control the state of your face.
Treating acne from the inside out sounds great in theory, but because acne is a disease of the pores it requires topical treatment nearly 100% of the time. So don’t discredit the products you need to clear the pores of dead skin, oil, and bacteria – the key piece to managing acne are your skincare products. But not all products are equally effective, so lean mostly on a professional to treat your acne. You never know what’s lingering in your products if an acne professional didn’t direct you on what to put on your skin!
We see clients achieve clear skin every day. But you may wonder what does clear skin mean if you can never cure your acne. Know that we are humans, we get pimples, and we promise that you will get pimples again – but they will be fewer, smaller, less severe, and will go away faster. They will seem insignificant when compared to the acne journey you were on before.
We also promise that with the right products you won’t just achieve clear skin, but also confidence in your glowing complexion, and your skin will just get prettier and prettier. But be warned, your hypothetical “acne gene” never goes away. While in some cases acne can reach a burnout age in some people, that is the exception, not the rule. It is most likely always lingering waiting to strike if you fall off your regimen, try new unsafe-acne products, or go off the rails with lifestyle choices and stress.
Controlling stress is the final piece to controlling acne, which is why you are not helping your skin by agonizing over what is wrong with you. We are literally giving you a pass to blame your ancestors for your pimples, TAKE IT! We don’t recommend starting a family feud, but we do recommend finally working up the courage to take action and dedicate yourself to a real plan to manage your skin. And if not for yourself, do it for the future generations of you!
For more education on clearing skin check out a few other acne blogs!
What the Dermatologist Didn’t Tell You About Acne