Who Gets Acne? The Biggest Myth About Acne

Posted on November 28, 2008
Filed Under Acne Skin Care | Leave a Comment

The biggest myth about acne is that it’s only a teenage problem. This article talks about who will get acne, what age group and gender.

There is no simple answer to this simple question ‘who gets acne?’. Although acne is more often found in teenagers but this doesn’t mean adults are free from acne. In fact, many adults in their 30s or 40s still get acne. So, acne only occurs in teenagers is a MYTH.

The major causes of acne are overproduction of body oils or sebum, excess of dead skin cells and inflammation by bacteria. When oils and dead skin cells are trapped in a follicle, skin pore becomes clogged. This becomes the feeding ground for bacteria, allowing bacteria to thrive, hence causing inflammation and eruptions of acne. Hormones called androgens are believed to be a major driver of the increase in sebum production.

It’s not surprising that acne shows up most prominently during the teen years because the bodily and hormonal changes are at peak during teens’ puberty; causing what is known as “hormonal imbalances” which is believed to be the root cause of acne. Acne typically develops in girls around age 11 and 13 in boys, the average age at which the two genders enter puberty.

Although girls start to develop acne earlier than boys, the latter however tends to develop more severe acne. This is because boys produce considerably more androgen hormones than girls. Around 40% of teen acne is severe enough to warrant treatment by a dermatologist.

But the scales tip as we get older. As mentioned, many adults do get acne, women are more susceptible than men. Some studies show that nearly 85% of the population in America between age 12 and 24 develop some form of acne. Both males and females are equally susceptible to acne during this age range; but women tend to have higher incidence of acne after age of 25. About 25% of these people also have acne on other parts of their body besides the face; most commonly around the back and neck areas.

Many women suffer from acne outbreaks during the time of menstruation. In fact, some studies show that the women menstrual cycle does have direct impact on acne. This is often called the “PMS acne” or Premenstrual acne. Nearly 44% of women between the ages of 20-32 experience premenstrual acne. The odds are even higher for women aged 33 and older. Hormonal contraceptives have often been used to treat PMS acne breakouts as they help regulate hormonal surges during menstruation.

Acne can occur at any age, even babies are not spared. Young babies often get small whiteheads which may last for 3-6 weeks before they disappear. Acne can also appear in those over 50 and even later in life. Acne at this age is often influenced by hormonal factors, the sex hormones androgens is the main culprit, causing production of sebum that clogs skin pore.

In conclusion, acne is not only a teenage problem, there are plenty of people in their 30s, 40s and older who suffer from acne as well. If you are troubled by acne, check out our acne skincare guide online first before you buy another acne treatment product.

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