Q4. Why has my teenage son developed acne?

A4. The main reason for that is the male hormone testosterone. Girls also have this hormone although in tiny amounts.

During puberty, levels of this hormone start to rise which causes excess oil to be secreted from the sebaceous glands. These glands are found in the middle layer of the skin and help to nourish the hair follicles and skin. But during this stage, they over produce oil which combines with dead skin cells.

This blocks the skin pores which then become infected by bacteria. The result of this is the characteristic outbreak of spots known as acne. Boys are commonly affected than girls although acne can develop in both sexes. Acne develops in more than 80% of teenagers.

Our about acne section contains more information about the signs and symptoms of acne.

FAQS Index:

---

Acne FAQs

1. What is ‘acne vulgaris’?
2. What causes acne?
3. Is there more than one type of acne?
4. Why has my teenage son developed acne?
5. Why do some people develop acne in adulthood?
6. What are the different types of acne spots?
7. Does eating too much chocolate cause acne?
8. Is acne caused by not washing your face properly?
9. Does stress cause acne?
10. Will sun bathing or using a sun bed improve my acne?
11. Why is it bad to pick or squeeze acne spots?
12. Does acne cause emotional problems?
13. Does make-up cause acne?
14. What is mild acne?
15. What is moderate acne?

16. What is severe acne?
17. Can I treat acne at home?
18. How is acne treated?
19. What is ‘Roaccutane?’
20. What are ‘Retinoids?’
21. What is ‘Dalacin?’
22. Does acne clear up by itself?
23. What causes acne scars?
24. How do you treat acne scars?
25. How long before I notice any difference from my acne treatment?
26. How should I manage my acne?
27. Should I follow a skin care regime?
28. What is ‘intense pulsed light’ therapy?
29. What is ‘N-Lite’ laser treatment?
30. Can we prevent acne?

---