Adult Acne


The teen years may be the most common time of life to deal with acne, but adulthood is not far behind. Statistics show that 25% of adult males and nearly 50% of adult females suffer from adult acne at one time or another. The causes and results of adult acne are the same as those breakouts that occur during adolescence, only they can be much more traumatic if you think you are the only adult dealing with such teenage problems. It can also be frustrating because many of the treatments that teens use to keep breakouts under control can be too harsh for adult skin. If you are suffering with adult acne, read on for the basics of this condition and treatment options to try.

What Causes Adult Acne?

Adult acne is caused by the same process as teen acne. Sebaceous glands begin producing an overabundance of oil, which can clog follicles in the skin. When this back up is exacerbated by dead skin cells and a build up of bacteria, acne breakouts can occur. Beyond this explanation of adult acne, medical experts are not sure why some grownups suffer with this condition and some do not. However, theories point to hormone fluctuations in the middle years of life, which may explain why pre-menopausal women are more susceptible to adult acne than men in the same age bracket.

Types of Adult Acne

There are two basic types of adult acne that might occur. The first begins in adolescence and basically continues well into adulthood with very little break in between. This type of adult acne is known as persistent acne, which tends to concentrate more on the lower face and consist of inflamed pimples and nodules on the jaw line, around the mouth and on the chin. The other type of acne will reappear in adulthood after disappearing somewhere in the late teen years. This is known as late-onset acne, and tends to be more common in women. Both types of adult acne can be controlled with similar acne treatments, based on the type of acne present and how the individual responds.


Adult Acne Treatment

There are many choices in adult acne treatment, from over the counter, topical ointments to prescriptions found in your doctor's office. Medicated topical solutions, oral antibiotics and other types of acne medication are just a few of your doctor's possibilities. Another type of acne treatment that has received a lot of attention recently is laser therapy, which addresses either the sebaceous glands or the bacteria involved for the best effect. Many patients find that a combination of acne treatments is the best way to keep breakouts under control, and it often takes a process of trial and error to find the best combination for an individual.

Adult acne can be an embarrassing problem, but the good news is that help is available. The first step is to try one or two of the over the counter solutions. If these do not work effectively, talk to your doctor about the best prescription treatments for keeping your adult acne under control.