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Four Common Questions and Answers about Adult Acne

While there are many adults suffering from adult acne, many do not understand anything about it. There are many questions that they may have about the condition, and here is a look at some of the more common ones and their answers.

What is acne? That is often the first many people have about the condition. Acne is the most common skin condition affecting people from ages 11 to 30. It is also a disorder of the oil glands in the skin. Your skin has oil glands that produce an oil sebum that helps to keep it lubricated. However, an overproduction of this sebum can cause the blackheads, cysts, and pustules associated with acne. There are numerous reasons why this may happen, but the most common reasons are associated with hormonal changes. These may be from puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, as well as with changes in birth control medications.

What is the difference between adult and teenage acne? Many people do not realize that there are actual differences between the two types of acne. Besides having different causes, they two types of acne also start in different places. For most teenagers, acne will form on the forehead and nose. On the other hand, adult acne will often occur on the chin, jaw and neck. Adult acne usually needs to be treated by a dermatologist, since most of the over the counter remedies are designed to treat the causes of teenage acne. Adult acne is often caused by hormonal imbalances, though stress and environment can also play a role.

What are the differences between rosacea acne and adult female-hormonal acne? The two are both conditions that affect adult women. However, the two are different. Rosacea acne will usually be found in menopausal women and those with fair skin. Sufferers of rosacea experience dry, sensitive skin almost all of the time, resulting in skin redness and pimples. The condition can be further aggravated by spicy foods, alcohol, and exposure to the sun and extreme weather. While adult acne may look similar, it is not generally bothered by these conditions.

How do you know if you have rosacea or acne? Mostly, you can tell it from the symptoms. Adult acne tends to worsen as you age, and will appear on the chin, jaw line, and neck, often during the premenstrual cycle. There are also several factors that will make the condition worse, including: hereditary, increases of male hormones like testosterone in women, stopping or changing birth control medication, some cosmetics, and some medications. If you are still unsure what type of acne you have, your dermatologist can give you a diagnosis, as well as recommend treatment to cure and prevent acne.

If you have adult acne, your dermatologist is going to be your best resource for information and treatments. Most of the over the counter treatments are designed for teenage acne, and will not deal with the underlying causes of adult acne. Hormonal fluctuations may also need medications to treat, which cannot be done with over the counter formulations.