Adult acne: Is it Possible to Have Pimples as an Adult?

When we hear the term acne, the image that comes to mind is the spotty-faced, gangly teenager. We picture the awkward adolescent going through physical changes as he moves from childhood to adulthood. Although the majority of people that suffer from acne are teenagers a significant number of adults suffer from acne as well. This condition is termed, Adult Acne.

In reality, acne can become a problem at any age. Adult acne is when acne occurs in people twenty years of age and above. It can be brought on by any number of things however one of the most common causes is as a reaction to stress medication. Many people mistakenly say that stress causes acne because people with high-stress levels can often break out in spots. However, the reaction is usually to the medication that they are placed on rather than to the stress itself. Doctors are not sure exactly what about the medication causes acne to break out but usually prescribe additional medication to cure the acne.

Adult women are often known to suffer from an attack of acne when they stop using oral contraceptives. Stopping the use of The Pill causes hormonal changes in the body. Hormones and the condition of the skin seem to be very closely related. The clogged pores that cause acne to appear are affected by what is happening in the body hormonally. Under normal conditions, the ovaries produce both estrogen and testosterone. Testosterone is a male hormone. Although it is normal that it is present in the female body, estrogen should always be in higher concentrations than testosterone. When it is not, problems arise.

Research shows that hormones strongly affect the way that the skin looks and behaves. To put it simply, the balance between androgen and estrogen is fine. When one of these hormones is out of balance in a woman’s body, the effects are seen in the skin. This is the reason that many women see acne appear and re-appear with their menstrual cycle. Hormone therapy is one solution to hormone-induced acne. It works on reducing androgens and preventing them from stimulating the sebaceous gland into producing the large amounts of oil that feed the acne bacteria below the surface of the skin. This treatment can be very effective

There are many effective treatments for acne. The more you know about them, the better. As you can see, acne is not always related to proper washing and hygiene, nor is it related to a bad diet. Researchers have found that hormones affect the skin and the development of acne. This is a medical condition and therefore should be treated by a trained doctor or dermatologist. There are many over the counter drugs and treatments, only attempt to use these after consulting a medical professional.