Adult acne is known to affect 25% of all adult men and 50% of all adult. Adult acne are in particular very frustrating when you realize that the treatment that worked so well during adolescence period is so very ineffective now. So why do we adults get acne? There are however a few triggers for acne to develop. Lets find out more.

 

Introduction:

Adult acne is known to affect 25% of all adult men and 50% of all adult.

One third of all adults who are affected with facial acne also have acne on their body.

Development of acne or recurrence occurs in 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond.

Dermatologists all over the world are seeing more adult acne (post-adolescent acne) than they used to in previous decades.These acne are also reported to last longer with requirement of treatment well into the mid forties.

Regardless of when the acne appears, it leads to struggles with acne, making it difficult to cope up with, causing depression and social anxiety in the same way that it does in teens.

The acne that you had when you were about 15-16 years old, and now you noticed it coming back; do not be surprised; as one in every five women aged between 25 and 40 years are known to suffer from adult acne.

Adult acne are in particular very frustrating when you realize that the treatment that worked so well during adolescence period is so very ineffective now.

Facts related to acne:

1. Acne usually begins with blackheads, which are not dirt, but a result of oil and dead cells getting trapped in a skin pore which blocks the duct and mixes with bacteria. On exposure to air, they turn black. They turn into red pimples when they become inflamed and spread when touched with dirty hands. Once the pimple becomes infected, it develops a whitehead or  a pustule, which upon breaking cause scars.
2. Among several causes of adult acne include: Stress that causes oil glands to oversecrete. Bad cosmetics leading to bacteria-laden pores. Hormones causing the sebaceous glands in the skin to overact and last but not the least, birth control pills with androgen in them causing breakouts.
3. Lack of supplements and care can also cause acne. These include sulfur, zinc and camphor masks, exfoliation, blackhead extractions and home follow-up.
4. A good treatment with suitable cleansing and moisturizing helps a lot in keeping them at bay.
5. Although visits to the dermatologist will clear the skin up fast. There are few simple steps to be followed at home to get a good result. Over-the-counter treatments with salicylic acid benzoyl peroxide go a long way. But if acne is really bad, you do need a dermatologist opinion.
6.  Acne clearing machines like Zeno Acne Clearing Device are good. But they generally don’t help with blackheads or deep cystic acne. They can be used to clear the general non-complicated pimples.

 

Types of adult acne:

1. Persistent acne: The acne that does not clear by mid-20s persists well into one’s 30s, 40s, and even 50s. These are the cause of deep-seated, tender, inflamed pimples and nodules. This is more commonly seen in women. Persistent acne usually tends to form on the lower part of face, predominately around the mouth, on the chin, and along the jawline.
2. Late-onset acne: People who have not had acne for years together can suddenly see deep-seated, inflamed pimples and nodules on their faces, including those who have never had acne can get late-onset acne. For some women, this becomes a problem during their menopause. These acne generally form on the chin, jawline, and around the mouth; and sometimes also on the chest and back. Again, these are more commonly seen in the women.

 

 Causes for acne:

So why do we adults get acne? Regardless of age and gender, acne develops when excess sebum (an oil produced by skin to naturally moisturize), skin cells, and bacteria accumulate in the skin pores.

There are however a few triggers for acne to develop:

 

1. Fluctuating hormones: Acne is typically associated with hormonal swings of puberty, but it is seen that any time these hormones fluctuate, acne can flare. This is the reason why many women get the once-a-month breakout. Hormonal swings can also occur during pregnancy and menopause, causing acne.
2. Discontinuing pills: Women also tend to get acne when they stop taking birth control pills. These pills may have been kept their acne at bay, and once stopping these, they flare up.
3. Certain medications: Birth control pills containing estrogen and progesterones often help to control acne in women. But, when a birth control pill contains only progestins, it may make the acne worse. Also, acne is a possible side effect of many other medications. Some of these mediactions include anticonvulsants, corticosteroids, and sobriety drugs. However just because of the fact that acne gets worse with certain drugs, never stop taking a prescription. Always talk to the doctor who prescribed the medication and ask for a different which will probably not cause acne to flare up.
4. History of acne in families: 50% of the adults who have acne will have a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) also having acne. This suggests a genetic predisposition to acne development.
5. Stress may trigger acne especially in women. There is a relationship between increased stress levels and higher levels of acne in women having fast-paced careers. In response to stress, our body produces more androgens which stimulate the oil glands and hair follicles in the skin to produce more oil and sebum with which, acne can flare.
6. Acne can be as a warning sign of an underlying medical condition. When acne is accompanied by excessive facial hair, thinning hair or bald patches on the scalp, and irregular periods in women, it may be a sign of polycystic ovaries or adrenal hyperplasia, also, a hormone-secreting tumor located in her adrenal gland or an ovary. These acne will not get cleared until the underlying medical condition is treated.