Who Gets Acne?

Just about everyone. Acne can affect people of all races and ages ranging from adolescence to adulthood.

Most people between the ages of 12 and 17 have at least an occasional pimple and about 40% of adolescents have significant enough acne to require a doctor's attention.

In most cases acne will clear up during a person's early 20s, though it can persist into the thirties and forties. Some people develop acne for the first time as adults.

While young women are more likely to have intermittent acne due to the cosmetics they use and the hormonal fluctuations associated with their menstrual cycle, young men are more likely to have more severe and longer lasting forms of acne.

Teen Acne

Teen Acne is Universal

Many teens will experience some form of acne. For many it can simply be an occasional pimple or mild outbreak while for others it can be a chronic (long, ongoing, or marked by frequent occurrences) and painful condition that should be monitored by a doctor.

Puberty is the Culprit

Androgens, male hormones, present in both males and females shift into high gear during puberty. They stimulate the sebaceous glands to increase the production of sebum, an oily secretion that flows out of your pores.

Whiteheads and Blackheads

Another marker of puberty is the increased shedding of dead skin cells inside the pores. The excess sebum and accumulated skin cells can stick together and create a soft plug that clogs the skin pore. And voila, you have a whitehead or blackhead.

Papules, Pustules, Nodules and Cysts

The mixture of sebum and sloughed off skin cells makes a perfect environment for the growth of a normal skin bacteria known as Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes).

P. acnes multiplies in the clogged pore and causes the inflammation that shows itself in redness, swelling, heat and sometimes pain. The inflamed pimples range from tender pink papules and red pustules with yellowish or white centers to larger, deeper nodules and pus filled cysts. The last two can be particularly painful and result in scarring.

When the walls of a plugged and inflamed pore break down or burst, the accumulated material ( sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria) spills into the nearby skin causing a breakout of lesions or pimples.

Acne Locations

The most common location for an acne breakout is the face, particularly in the T-zone, the area encompassing the forehead, nose and chin.

Blemishes and breakouts frequently occur on the back as well as on the neck, chest and shoulders.

Acne Face-off

The best defense against acne is daily skin care. Gently washing your face once or twice a day and after activities that cause you to perspire heavily can help you to keep your skin clean and to reduce the risk of inflammation. Remember to gently pat your skin dry. Scrubbing your face or rubbing it dry can irritate the skin and pores, exacerbating your acne.

Use cosmetic skin care products such as moisturizers, sunscreen and cosmetics that are labeled non-comedogenic. These products will not clog your pores.

Never, ever, pop those pimples, no matter how tempting! The spillage from the pimple can cause further breakouts while any bacteria on your fingers and nails can greatly increase the risk of inflammation. You also put yourself at higher risk for scarring.

Adult Acne

The Same and Not the Same

Acne vulgaris is not limited to teenagers. In fact, adult acne is a common problem that is on the rise, particularly among women.

A study in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology cited 54% of women and 40% of men suffer from acne. However, four times as many women as men suffered from the more severe forms. A large percentage (82%) of both the men and women with severe acne reported that it was a carry over from their teen years.

Different Hormones or Not

As with teenagers, hormonal activity plays a part in most cases of adult acne.

Androgens (male hormones found in both men and women and important in causing teenage acne) play their part as well. In fact, during menopause as the body curtails the production of estrogen, androgens cause an increased output of sebum by the sebaceous glands.

Same Bacteria

The same P. acnes bacteria that afflicts teenagers, can inflame an adult's clogged pores and cause papules, pustules and the more severe nodules and cysts typical to acne.

Different Skin Types

While oily skin is typical of teenage acne, adult acne involves normal or combination skin and in some cases even dry and sensitive skin.

Same Skin Care

Treatment of adult acne is the same as for teenagers. It starts with gentle facial cleansing once or twice daily as well as after heavy perspiration in order to help keep the pores clean and free of bacteria.

You should only use non-comedogenic (oil free products that will not clog your pores) cosmetics, moisturizers and sunscreens.