According to the National Institute for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, around 80% of teens and young adults will suffer from acne at some point in their lives. It causes so many problems for people who suffer from it including anxiety and depression.

In this article we will discuss the causes of acne, different types of acne some myths about acne, traditional medications to treat acne and how CBD can help.

What is Acne?
Your skin is full of follicles which are a pore with a hair follicle and a sebaceous gland. Acne occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with dead skin cells & sebum. Sebum is an oily secretion expressed by the sebaceous gland. The plugged follicles can become infected and cause painful unsightly bumps on the skin that can cause scaring.

What are the different types of acne?
These descriptions are super gross so just get ready for that... Here we go
Acne can show up on the skin in many different forms, some more severe than others. These include:

• Whiteheads : Whiteheads are closed plugged pores on the surface of the skin filled with sebum and dead skin cells
  
• Blackheads : Blackheads are open plugged pores on the surface of the skin. The pore is stretched open by the build up of sebum and dead skin cells. The dark color is caused by the plug being open to air causing oxidation.
• Papules : Papules are small bumps that are red and raised due to inflammation and/or infection.
  
• Pustules : Pustules are papules that have a pocket of pus present on the top. They tend to be red around the bottom and white at the tip.
  
• Nodules : Nodules are solid lumps deeper under the surface of the skin. These are often painful and larger than papules.
• Cysts : Cysts are typically quite large and puss filled lumps deep under the surface of the skin. They are almost always painful and caused by infection in the follicle.
  

What are the most common risk factors for acne?
As we discussed before the root cause of acne is hair follicles plugged by sebum and dead skin cells, however there are many things that can aggravate this condition.

• Certain medications like corticosteroids, lithium, oral contraceptives and testosterone.
• Hormone changes during pregnancy & puberty.
• Stress can trigger hormonal changes that can increase sebum production and make acne worse.
• Diet
• Family history
• Age, acne can affect people at any age but is most common in teens and young adults.

Are traditional acne treatments safe?
Listen, I get it... You want so badly to be acne free that you might be willing to try anything. I submit to you that trying CBD 1st is better for your overall health. CBD does not come with the list of side effects that prescription & over the counter medications come with. Just one scary example is Accutane. Sold from 1982 to 2009, Accutane was linked to many side effects including: birth defects, depression, psychosis, and suicide. A report published by Julia Green of Harvard Law in 2002 goes into more detail. The manufacturer discontinued it in 2009 due to an influx of personal injury lawsuits and decreasing sales. OTC medications are not a whole lot safer, read this article published by the FDA on the dangers of these medications as well.

How does CBD help with acne?
Your Endocannabinoid System is present on nearly every cell type in your body including your skin. It is responsible for maintaining balance which is called homeostasis. Using CBD helps to boost this system and keep it functioning at peak performance. CBD can help by: decreasing inflammation, regulating sebum production, reducing free radical damage & healing damaged cells just to name a few.
Bottom line... if you are suffering from acne, try CBD to help your body heal itself before reaching for chemical medications... your face will thank you.