By: Jennifer Davenport, Esthetics Student
While most people think of acne as an issue for hormonal teenagers,
there are many people in their 20s, 30s and even 40s who suffer from
acne flare ups. In fact, 25 percent of all adult men and 50 percent of
adult women will deal with acne at some point, and a third of them will
experience acne on their body as well as their face.
Many factors can come into play to cause adult acne, including of course
hormones, but also emotional stress, use of cosmetics, medications and
an increase in resistant bacteria. Many adult women also notice
premenstrual or menstrual flare‐ups on the face, often around the
mouth.
Acne is a disorder of keratinization, or faulty development of the cells
lining the sebaceous gland. The cell walls are sticky, binding together
and plugging the gland rather than easily exfoliating themselves onto
the surface. Meanwhile, the sebaceous glands continue to secrete sebum
(oil), which clogs pores even further. Acne‐causing P. acnes bacteria that
live on the skin thrive and flourish in this environment, causing
irritation in the gland. This persistent plugging, excessive oil build‐up
and irritation cause the gland to rupture, manifesting in inflamed acne
papules or cysts, more commonly known as pimples, or zits.
Interrupting this cycle at various points will help clear acne, but acne
therapy is a long‐term process and can take up to 6‐8 weeks for
considerable improvement to show, so don’t expect a quick fix for more
serious, ongoing acne issues.
A longer‐term strategy should include regimens that focus on killing the
bacteria, reducing unnecessary oils, unplugging the pores and reducing
irritation. Start a regimen that includes multiple products aimed at
those issues, from cleansers to moisturizers and serums and try to
select a line designed for adult skin.
