Adult Acne -  [Acne Vulgaris]

Many adults suffering from acne find it very frustrating that the treatments that worked when they were teenagers have little  impact, and the products they can buy over the counter tend to aggravate their skin, making the acne worse. For this reason many ask the question, what is adult acne? Is it really acne at all?

Types of Adult Acne

Adults tend to suffer from two distinct types of adult acne, which are persistent acne, and late onset acne. When adolescent acne continues into the mid twenties and beyond this is known as persistent acne. When adults that have never experienced acne at all, or who have been acne free for years, suddenly develop adult acne this is known as late onset acne.

Characteristics of Adult Acne

Both persistent and late onset acne have similar characteristics:

What is the cause of Adult Acne ?

The single cause of all types of acne is the accumulation of excess natural oil or sebum, skin cells, and bacteria in the hair follicles under the surface of your skin. However there are many possible triggers for this accumulation, which can lead to adult acne.

These triggers include:

Family history - unfortunately many of us have a genetic predisposition to adult acne. Studies have shown that up to half of adult acne sufferers have a parent or sibling that have also suffered from the same condition. This does not mean that you have to accept adult acne as inevitable, there are always treatments to reduce its effects.

Stress - many of us will associate outbreaks of adult acne with particularly stressful times in our lives, and again this is particularly true for women. This is caused by the body producing extra androgens, a type of hormone, in response to stress. In turn these androgens stimulate oil production in the glands of the skin causing acne to flare up.

Hormonal changes - most people experience acne with the significant hormonal upheaval of puberty, but it can be triggered by other periods of hormone fluctuation. A lot of women have a temporary breakout of pimples once a month in coordination with their menstrual cycle, and many experience acne during pregnancy. Menopause, or perimenopause, is a common time for late onset acne to set in.

Birth control pills - the combination of hormones contained in most birth control pills, progesterone and oestrogen, often helps to prevent acne in women. Ceasing to take the pill can cause an outbreak of adult acne. On the other hand, progesterone only birth control pills can trigger adult acne, so stopping these may help to clear your skin.

Medication - many medications can cause an outbreak of acne, or cause it to flare up if you are already acne prone. The types of medications most commonly associated with adult acne are sobriety drugs, anticonvulsants, and corticosteroids. If taking medication causes an outbreak of acne, always talk to your doctor before you stop taking it. Your doctor may prescribe a different sort of medication that won’t affect your skin, or if they cannot, they should refer you to a dermatologist to help control your acne whilst you need the medication. Never stop taking medication because of an acne breakout without consulting your doctor first.

Oily products - hair greases and oily sunscreens can trigger something called acne cosmetica when they come into contact with the skin. Buying products labelled ‘non-acnegenic’ or non-comedogenic’ should help to avoid this type of adult acne.

What if Adult Acne is a sign of something more serious?

There are times when adult acne, particularly in women, can be a sign of an underlying medical condition such as polycystic ovaries, adrenal hyperplasia or a hormone secreting tumour. However, in these cases there will be other symptoms such as increased facial hair and thinning hair or bald patches on the head, as well as irregular periods. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms in conjunction with acne, you should consult your doctor to begin tests.

Other Aspects of Adult Acne.....

Acne Scars

Acne Treatments

How to get rid of Acne 

Acne Rosacea

Cystic Acne

Zeno Acne

Home Remedies for Acne

Back Acne and Body Acne

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[Acne Vulgaris]