Adult Acne – What Are the Causes?

Acne is a common problem among many teenagers and adults. This problem results in a lot of emotional stress among people. The reason is that it affects the overall personality of the individual. Additionally, the inflammation and spots on the skin surface become unbearable.

According to a study, adult acne affects about 25 per cent of all adult man and 50 per cent of all adult women at some point in their lives. This often results in social anxiety and depression among a lot of adults.

Whenever we think of acne, we tend to imagine adolescence or teenage. However, it is just a myth that acne attacks only teenagers.

Many adults suffer from acne at later stages or during the middle age of their lives. The occurrence of acne may be very common in teenage but we cannot rule out the possibility of acne occurrence in adulthood.

There are several causes that may be held responsible for occurrence of acne in adulthood.

Here are some of the most common causes:

a) Cause 1 - Hormones

In most of the acne sufferers the problem starts during puberty when the body produces hormones known as androgens. Androgens cause enlargement of sebaceous glands. However, this problem tends to persist and most women experience this problem during the onset of menstruation cycle.

They also suffer from the same problem during pregnancy and menopause. This is due to hormonal changes that take place during different stages of life in an individual.

a) Cause 2 - Extra Sebum

Whenever the androgens stimulate sebaceous gland, it tends to produce extra sebum. When it goes upwards towards the surface, this sebum gets mingled with common skin bacteria as well as the dead skin cells that have already been shed from the follicle lining.

This is a normal process but extra sebum secreted in the follicle increases the chances of clogging of the pores and ultimately formation of acne.

b) Case 3 - Bacteria

P. acnes or the bacterium Propionobacterium acnes is found in almost all skin types. In fact, it is a part of the natural sebum of the skin’s maintenance system. As soon as a follicle is plugged, one tends to suffer from follicle inflammation and surrounding skin.

c) Cause 4 - Inflammation

Whenever your body meets unwanted bacteria, there is an attack of white blood cells to it. This process of prevention is known as chemotaxis or inflammatory response in simple language. This response results in red, swollen and sometimes painful condition.

d) Cause 5 - Follicle fallout

Generally, the dead cells inside the follicle tend to shed slowly and expelled on the surface of the skin. However, in patients who have overactive sebaceous glands, these cells tend to shed more rapidly.

When mixed with extra sebum, the dead skin cells can easily create a plug inside the follicle and prevents the skin from finishing its natural process of renewal.

There are several treatments available for adult acne. It is important to seek medical help on an immediate basis and follow the instructions of the doctor carefully.