What is the cause of adult acne?

For those who suffer from it, adult acne can be likened to an old school bully; it picks on you for no apparent reason, it won’t go away when you wish it would and it can make your life a complete and utter misery. It can begin or continue way past your tumultuous teens; in fact figures suggest acne affects 25% of all adult men and a staggering 50% of adult women.

The label, 'adult acne', is given to spot-sufferers over the age of 25. The condition typically appears in clusters around the lower cheek and jaw line. It can be split into two main types: The most common type is called ‘persistent acne’ this is when acne continues after adolescence. Persistent acne occurs in 70 to 80 percent of affected individuals. The other type is called ‘late onset acne’ it is less common and as the name suggests it appears for the first time in adulthood. This can be quite upsetting if you managed to cruise through adolescence with a pimple free complexion only to be bombarded with later in life.

No one really knows what causes acne to occur but it is thought an accumulation of a fatty substance called sebum is one of the main culprits. When there is an excess of sebum it can block the sebaceous glands causing whiteheads and blackheads to occur. Sebum is also responsible for nourishing the growth of bacteria that is found in the skin. An excess of this bacteria then causes the skin’s immune cells to fight the bacteria and inflammation and acne may develop.

Factors such as hormones, stress and genetics are also thought to play a part in the development of adult acne. Male hormones cause an increase in the amount of sebum produced and this can aggravate an acne condition. With age the sebaceous glands and ducts can also become more sensitive to male hormones or take longer to heal after an inflammation. If you are having a hectic time at work or at home, stress can also cause an increase in the production of stress hormones from the adrenal glands.

Genetics is thought to play a part in whether you’ll be plagued with acne in adult life. A study of twins did produce some evidence that acne can be inherited. Your chances of developing adult acne are four times greater if you have a parent or sibling who also had it.

Adult acne is sometimes also referred to as acne rosacea. This condition affects middle aged men and women, especially those from a Celtic origin with fair skin and blue eyes. However, rosacea is quite different from acne, even thought it can produce red spots and pustules.

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - Adult Acne

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