Adult Acne

Adult Acne and the "Why Didn't I Outgrow It" Question

You were sure you'd outgrow acne, but you're now 20 something and adult acne has been even worse than you remember. The fact is that many people outgrow acne and adult acne never becomes an issue. But other people are simply prone to acne and will fight adult acne for some time - perhaps their entire life.

One of the facts of adult acne is that it's often tied to hormones. As women fight the monthly changes wrought by raging hormones, acne can become a huge issue. Adult acne may manifest in blackheads, pimples, whitehead or cystic acne (which never really erupts above the skin). While teenage acne can be serious, there's a real potential for scarring with some of the more serious cases of adult acne.

The good news is there's treatment for adult acne, but it may take some time to find what will work for you. Topical ointments are sometimes a good choice but not all will work for everyone. Hormone treatments may be an option and some women report fewer and less severe breakouts if birth control is used consistently over a period of time. On the other hand, adult acne may worsen during times of severe stress, when birth control pills or shots are started or stopped, or when pregnancy occurs.

Adult acne isn't limited to women, though there are significantly more women afflicted than men. According to information at www.acnease.com/adult_acne.asp, some 50 percent of all adult women have trouble with acne. The writer on that site says that the average age in which people stop dealing with acne has increased from about 20 years old to more than 26 years old. Again, the major cause is cited as hormone levels.

You'll also find information about adult acne at www.acnepain.com/adult_acne.html. This site outlines some of the common terms associated with adult acne and acne in general and lists some medications used for the treatment of adult acne. You'll also find lists of lots of resources for acne, including adult acne.

Scarring may be more serious for those suffering from adult acne because the skin's regenerative powers have lessened - another reason to take a proactive stand.

Please be sure to visit our pages about how to get rid of acne, acne medication, acne scars, acne scar treatments, and laser treatment for acne elsewhere on this site.