What Does Hair Have To Do With Acne???

Treatment for acne in Chico, California as well as treatment for acne in Sacramento is available through 916 Acne, Skin & Wellness Studio.  Our acne program is getting people clear on an average of 12 weeks without the use of prescription medications.
ACNE CONSULTATIONS: 530.680.2027

Hair growth has everything to do with acne! There are two types of follicles, sebaceous follicles (oil follicles) and hair follicles. Attached near the base of both types of follicles are sebaceous glands (oil glands), which resemble a cluster of 4 to 5 grapes. While the hair follicle and the sebaceous follicle both produce oil, it is only the hair follicle that contains a thick hair stalk. The hair acts as a wick for the oil to climb up out of the follicle and onto the surface of the skin.  The sebaceous follicle, on the other hand, may contain a vellus/rudimentary hair at the very most, which is fine, short, and barely visible to the naked eye.  Rudimentary hair presents a problem in acne prone individuals because it either coils up in the follicle, or it is too flimsy to support the weight of the oil - so the oil remains stuck in the follicle along with cellular debris causing an impaction (clogged pore).  Using the correct products and treatments for your specific type of acne will promote healthy sebaceous follicles, and help control your oil and your breakouts.

We look forward to helping you get clear. 
916...your skin's lucky number!!!

Does Dry Skin Cause Acne???

Acne treatment in Sacramento, Folsom, Walnut Creek, Chico, Redding and Tahoe is available through 916 Acne, Skin & Wellness Studio. Our acne program is designed to treat grades 1-4 acne vulgaris without the use of prescription medications.
ACNE CONSULTATIONS: 530.680.2027

No, dry skin does not cause acne, but it can trigger breakouts.  People who have oily, acneic type skin often avoid moisturizers and sunscreens out of fear that it will feel greasy, and potentially cause them to break out.  On the contrary, even oily skin needs hydration.  When we talk about hydrating your skin, we are talking about water.  How do we get water into the skin and keep it there? 

A little dryness can be a good thing under the right circumstances. Dryness leads to the sloughing and flaking  of dead skin cells, and stimulates new cells to move to the surface. If you were to look at a cross section of dry skin underneath a microscope, you would see tiny little cracks called microfissures. These fissures allow water to escape from the skin leaving it dehydrated, and potentially triggering breakouts.  While dry skin can be beneficial in the healing process, it is important not to let it get too dry, and to always keep it hydrated.  First, drink plenty of water - at least half your weight in ounces (more if you exercise or drink coffee).  Second, use a noncomedogenic moisturizer, sunscreen, and/or hydrating serum.  The correct moisturizer or sunscreen sits on top of your skin and creates a seal - locking in moisture.

I have seen a handful of cases where patient's acne improves immediately once they begin properly hydrating their skin. To learn more about hydrating products that will not clog your pores please contact the studio.  916...your skin's lucky number!!!

Acne During Menopause!!!

Help with acne in Chico, California is available at 916SKIN although there is no acne cure, 916 can help you manage your acne, and get you clear in approximately 3 months. We also have an acne program for our long distance patients. ACNE CONSULTATIONS: 530.680.2027

Just when you began to see the brighter side of menopause, you start breaking out like a teenager!  Welcome to menopausal acne.  This condition typically occurs in thick skinned, large pored, formerly oily women. Acne lesions consist mostly of low grade, closed comedones (whiteheads), which are relatively small, noninflamed raised bumps. Skin often feels grainy, bumpy, or textured. As you enter your menopausal years, your production of estrogen and progesterone declines creating androgen imbalance and adrenal stress, which results in more sebum and the potential for breakouts.  Many of our acne treatments at 916 come with the added perk of anti-aging benefits.  Let 916 get you clear!

Acne Remedy in Chico!!!

916 Acne, Skin & Wellness Studio is an acne clinic in Chico, California treating acne without the use of prescription medications. Our acne program is getting people clear in approximately 3 months.  For more information about our acne program, please contact the studio to schedule a consultation.  916 also offers a long distance acne program for those out of the area.
ACNE CONSULTATIONS: 530.680.2027

We look forward to getting you clear!!!

Top 5 Acne Aggravators!!!

916SKIN is an acne center in Chico, California. On average, our patients experience clear skin within 3 months without the use of prescription medications.
ACNE CONSULTATIONS: 530.680.2027


The top 5 acne aggravators include:

• comedogenic (pore clogging) ingredients in skin and hair care products, as well as detergents and fabric softeners.
• medications such as steroids, lithium, antiepileptics, and iodides
• conditions that influence an increase in androgen levels such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia, polycystic ovarian syndrome, or in some cases, pregnancy.
• ultraviolet light in some cases will help clear acne due to its drying effect, but in most cases it is irritating to the follicles and exacerbates breakouts; regardless, ultraviolet light causes skin cancer and premature aging
• donning headbands, masks, glasses, back packs, purses, under-wire bras, or anything that creates friction on the skin

What Causes Acne? Part 4

Help for acne in Sacramento, Chico, Oroville, Red Bluff, Redding, Tahoe, and surrounding areas is available at 916SKIN.  916 is an acne center in Chico, California treating grades 1-4 acne without the use of prescription medications.  On average, our patients are experiencing clear skin within 3 months.   ACNE CONSULTATIONS: 530.680.2027

Acne vulgaris stems from a genetic predisposition to the disease. The third factor involved in the disease pathway of acne is an oxygen hating microbe, Proprionibacterium acnes (p. acnes).  P. acnes is a bacterium that thrives in anaerobic conditions, making a closed comedone the perfect environment for it to flourish.  Inside the follicle, P. acnes stimulates the production of proinflammatory mediators that pass through the follicle wall activating monocytes and neutrophils (white blood cells), which in turn, leads to the production of proinflammatory cytokines.  A sensitivity to this bacteria (P. acnes) may explain why some acne sufferers experience inflammation with their breakouts and others do not.  As a reminder, a genetic predisposition remains the underlying cause of acne vulgaris, while P. acnes is one of several factors in the disease pathway.

What Causes Acne? Part 3

Acne remedies in Sacramento and Chico, California are available at 916 Acne, Skin & Wellness Studio.  If you are interested in our acne program, please contact the studio to schedule your acne consultation.  Phone consultations are also available for long distance clients. Call toll free: 877.603.9169

While genetics remains the underlying root cause of acne, the disease process is multifactorial. Leaving off from our last blog, an additional factor involved in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris is the production and excretion of sebum (oil). It is widely accepted that sebum is controlled by androgens, even though blood tests in numerous acne patients reveal normal androgen levels.  It has been hypothesized that sebaceous glands are not only regulated by androgens, but that other molecules including growth hormone and insulin-like growth factors may also responsible for the production and excretion of sebum, and in turn, the manifestation of acne.

Our next blog will uncover the third factor involved in the disease process of acne.

What Causes Acne? Part 2

Treat acne in Sacramento and Chico, California at 916 Acne, Skin & Wellness Studio.  916 is an acne clinic serving the Northern California area. To learn more about our acne program in Chico, California please contact the studio and schedule your consultation.  Phone consultations are available.

Although the underlying root cause of acne vulgaris is a genetic predisposition, the disease process has several components; one of which, is retention hyperkeratosis (the rapid production of skin cells retained within a follicle). The follicle we are referring to is what many people commonly know as a pore. It contains sebaceous glands (oil glands), and is lined with epithelial cells (skin cells). There are several popular hypotheses, which help us to understand what causes the acceleration of desquamated skin cells to build up within the follicle, creating follicular plugs.

The three hypotheses of retention hyperkeratosis have one common thread. Androgens. Androgens, are commonly known as male hormones such as testosterone, dihydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S).

In acne prone individuals, androgens initiate the process of retention keratosis. In addition, girls and boys may begin developing comedonal acne (plugged follicles) as early as age 6 (this is due to ongoing development within a region of the adrenal glands responsible for producing specific androgens). There is a correlation between the degree of comedones in prepubescent girls and their circulating DHEA-S levels. Finally, those with malfunctioning androgen receptors within their sebaceous glands are less likely to develop acne.

While the hypotheses give us insight, the exact cause of retention hyperkeratosis is unknown. Retention hyperkeratosis is one of several factors in the disease pathway of acne vulgaris.

Stay tuned for “What Causes Acne? Part 3”

What Causes Acne Vulgaris???

Help for acne in Chico, Sacramaento, Redding, and surrounding areas is available at 916 Acne, Skin & Wellness Studio.  For more information on our acne program in Chico, California please contact the studio to schedule your acne consultation. CONSULTATIONS: 530.680.2027

The sole underlying cause of acne lies within your genes. Although, androgen imbalance, adrenal overload, dysbiosis, leaky gut, food sensitivities, chemical sensitivities, and poor detoxification may all be contributing factors, the root cause of acne is a genetic predisposition.  Acne Vulgaris is a dominant trait that may skip a generation. If both parents had acne, three out of four children will also have acne. However, if only one parent had acne, then only one out of four children will have the disease. While acne patterns have a tendency to be similar within families, this is not always the case.

What Is Acne Vulgaris???

For the treatment of acne vulgaris in Chico, Sacramento, Redding, and surrounding areas in Northern California, please contact 916SKIN Acne, Skin & Wellness Studio to schedule your ACNE CONSULTATIONS: 530.680.2027

Acne vulgaris is the most common disease in the United States, affecting 60-70% of Americans at some point during their lives. Of this percentage, 20% will suffer severe acne, resulting in scarring and psychological damage. Acne vulgaris affects the face, upper chest, and back due to the abundance of sebaceous follicles (pores containing oil glands). Acne vulgaris is characterized by both noninflammatory and inflammatory acne lesions. Noninflamed lesions include open or closed comedones (blackheads or whiteheads). Whereas, inflamed lesions include papules, pustules, or nodules (pinheads/pimples, superficial pimples with a puss filled cap, pimples with a puss filled cap that extend into the dermis or subcutaneous layer and are greater than 5mm in diameter). The underlying root cause of acne vulgaris is a genetic predisposition towards the disease.


Acne vulgaris is classified more specifically as Grades 1-4 acne. Grade 1 Acne is characterized mainly by multiple open comedones. Grade 2 Acne is characterized mainly by closed comedones, and possibly a few papulopustules. Grade 3 Acne consists mainly of inflamed papules and pustules, but comedones may also be present. Grade 4 Acne is characterized by nodules. Papules, pustules, and comedones may also be present in Grade 4 Acne.

Signs of Premenstrual Acne!!!

916Skin is an acne clinic in Chico, California specializing in the treatment of grades 1 - 4 acne.  If you suffer from acne vulgaris in Chico, Sacramento, San Francisco, Red Bluff, Redding, or surrounding areas, please contact 916SKIN.
ACNE CONSULTATIONS: 530.680.2027

Premenstrual acne is one of seven types of acne. Premenstrual acne is characterized by inflamed acne lesions along the chin and or jaw line just before menstruation.  At this time, estrogen levels dip to their lowest creating an androgen imbalance.  To learn more about how to manage premenstrual acne, or to find out what type of acne you have, contact 916 Acne, Skin & Wellness Studio and schedule your acne consultation.  Our comprehensive in-office consultations are 60 to 90 minutes and cost $25.  Your consultation fee will be waved when you schedule an acne treatment the same day.

916...your skin's lucky number!!!