Q5. Why do some people develop acne in adulthood?
A5. Acne usually develops during adolescence but there are some people who escape this only to find that they experience this in their twenties or even their thirties.
It is usually women who experience this which can be attributed to changing hormone levels. Adult acne often occurs in middle age which for women is the time of the menopause.
During this time, oestrogen levels fall which may cause an increase in testosterone which regulates sebum and sweat production. This increase can lead to an excess of sebum which then clogs the pores and results in acne.
Pregnancy also causes fluctuations in hormone levels as do certain types of oral contraceptives. An ovarian cyst can also cause acne.
Certain types of make up which are oil-based and ‘comedogenic’ are another trigger as they can block skin pores.
Another less well known cause of acne in adults is anabolic steroids. These are a type of synthetic male hormone which is used by athletes and bodybuilders to increase muscle mass and strength. But they come with a range of side effects which includes acne.
FAQS Index:
- What is ‘acne vulgaris’?
- What causes acne?
- Is there more than one type of acne?
- Why has my teenage son developed acne?
- Why do some people develop acne in adulthood?
- What are the different types of acne spots?
- Does eating too much chocolate cause acne?
- Is acne caused by not washing your face properly?
- Does stress cause acne?
- Will sun bathing or using a sun bed improve my acne?
- Why is it bad to pick or squeeze acne spots?
- Does acne cause emotional problems?
- Does make-up cause acne?
- What is mild acne?
- What is moderate acne?
- What is severe acne?
- Can I treat acne at home?
- How is acne treated?
- What is ‘Roaccutane?’
- What are ‘Retinoids?’
- What is ‘Dalacin?’
- Does acne clear up by itself?
- What causes acne scars?
- How do you treat acne scars?
- How long before I notice any difference from my acne treatment?
- How should I manage my acne?
- Should I follow a skin care regime?
- What is ‘intense pulsed light’ therapy?
- What is ‘N-Lite’ laser treatment?
- Can we prevent acne?
Guide to Acne
- Acne Intro
- About acne
- Your skin
- What is acne?
- Who is likely to get acne?
- What causes acne?
- Acne symptoms
- Acne types
- Acne Complications
- Diagnosing acne
- Emotional effects of acne
- Managing acne
- Popular acne myths
- Body acne
- Acne scars
- Acne and teenagers
- Acne treatment
- Self-help
- Over the counter medicines
- Prescription medicines
- Diet
- Light treatment
- Laser treatment
- Preventing acne
- Acne FAQs
- Glossary