What is Adult Acne?

What is adult acne? Why do you still get those unsightly pimples? Most of us breathed a sigh of relief when we passed our of teen years. No more acne. Right? Wrong!

Acne can strike at any age and is a skin problem that affects both men and women.

Women suffer from acne outbreaks more than men, which is a switch from the teens years. It was often the boys who suffered most from acne.

One of the reasons women have more acne outbreaks is because they are more prone to hormonal fluctuations, one of the causes of acne. Women experience these fluctuations through out their lives especially during their menstruation cycle, menopause, and pregnancy.

Men, on the other hand, have to contend with higher levels of testosterone. Outbreaks of acne in men can begin in their teen years and may last well into their adulthood. If the outbreaks are not treated an outbreak could last 10 years or more.

The development of acne in adults.

In order to understand why adults get acne, we first have to understand what acne is and how it develops.

Acne is an inflammatory skin condition that happens when oil and dead skin cells block the pore opening, causing sebum (oil) to build up inside the pore. It can happen at any age.

Acne is not a disease but a skin condition.

The three steps in the development of acne are:

  • Stage l: Clogged Pores
      Cells lining pores shed and mix with excess sebum which has been produced by sebaceous gland. This forms a plug which leads to clogged pores
  • Stage 2: Bacteria
      Accumulated sebum and dead cells attract propionibacterium bacteria naturally found in skin, which feeds on oil and multiplies rapidly inside pores.
  • Stage 3: Inflammation
      This bacterial overgrowth triggers the natural inflammatory response causing swelling and redness. This can ultimately lead to discoloration and scarring.

    There are several reasons for adults to suffer from acne outbreaks. Some of these causes are:

    • Stress
        Stress causes your glands to over compensate.

    • Bad cosmetics
        Bad cosmetics lead to bacteria-laden pores.

    • Hormones and Birth Control
        Hormones cause the sebacuous glands to overact and birth control pills with androgen in them can cause acne outbreaks.

    Adult Acne Skin Care

    • Use oil-free, non-acnegenic acne products

    • Since acne is a skin condition, maintaining a good diet will help keep the skin healthy and free from acne.
    Its good to remember that as you age so does your skin. Your are not a teenager anymore, you cann't treat your acne like you did when you were a teenager. The products you used as a teen will not work on adult skin.

    So what is the answer to the question: What is adult acne? It simple. It is not much different from the acne you suffered as a teen. The difference is in the treatments you use.

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    For More Information On Acne Visit:

    What Is Acne
    Suffer From Zits or Pimples – You Are Not Alone
    Causes of Acne
    Teenage Acne
    Acne Scars

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